The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-07-11
To,aT Eclipse sc the sun.

On the afternoon OF the Goth OF this
n,onfl, q total eclipse OF Che sun will occur
fI,e most sublime and awe-inspiring eeles-
tial phenomenon chat Is ever witnessed Dy
mortal ewes. Tile eclipse will only be q
Martial one, beginning, according to Boston
time. in The afternoon as 4h. 5Sm., and end,
at Oh. Aim. Some other portions OF. the ie
Tinted States are more favored, ana a.l
who live on this happy strip OF land,.
and MI ;7ho make scientific pilgrimage
thIther, will, il sthe sky is clear, ENJOY Q
sight forever to be remembered, and not 70
he repeated in the same locality during tine
nresent century. During its progress tGe
dark shadow OF the moon VIII enter tnls
country In longitude $50 west OF Wasnlns-
ton. It will cross the western emo OF Mon,
taua Territory, the Yellowsi one Nat 70 ionai
Park, Wyoming Territory. Denver, Coto.
RADIO, and Northern and eastern 1eNas,
entering the Gulf of Mexico between new
Orleans and Galveston. IL VIII then Iass
over most OF the island OF CUBA ana souLli-
erp San Domingo, and leave the earth
little southeast of the latter island. Before
entering this continent, the eclipse will hrst
strike the earth in Siberia, cross Behring'S
Straits and the British Possessions. Inc
breadth OF the shadow within American
territory will be about one hundred anu
sixteen miles, and the duration OF totailtS
will range from 3tn. Is. on the nortnern
boundary TO 2m. 24s. at the Gull coast.
It is not likely that American astronomers
will let such q glorious opportunity pass
without improving it TO the utmost. me
busy notes Of preparations are being SOUND
ed, and men Of science are already estap-
fishing themselves Mt the most available 10
ca]ties, testing their delicate instruments:
and preparing to make the most OF Inc
three precious minutes OF the total solar
observation. Congress has appropriated
s.. 600 TO assist in the observation, and Ad-
miral Rogers, superintendent OF the United
States Naval Observatory, will make the
sum go as far as possible, while enthus;-
astic scientists will lend him helping hand,
working with will &C whatever point ne
may send them, their portion OF labor fully
marked out, and armed with all the lnstru-
ments that science can bring into the field.
A supplement to the American Ephemeris
and Nautical Almanac has been published
BY the authority OF the Secretary OF The
Navy, in which Professor Newcomb gives
minute instructions to guide observers,
especially the unscientitic. These are made
so simple that good watch, a piece oil
smoked glass, spy-glass Fastened so rs to
be steady, or an opera-gass held in the
hand, form the apparatus required for I'M
professional use. The search Tor al intra-
Mercurial planet, which has so long evaded
discovery, will be a prominent point TO
which attention will be directed. Any OBJ
server with keen eyes will have chance to
become immortal by picking up the prob
lemalical Vulcan within the circle where the
few visible planets and stars may he looked
for. The exact duration of the totality IS
another important point to be decided, and
accurate drawings OF the corona present an
interesting feature for practice. After all,
we think those observers are the happleSt
who, unfettered by scientific sponsbilities,
have nothing to do but look upon the 9lorl-
Gus sight when the face Of the great lllml-
nary is hidden, enjoy with emotions OF awe
and admiration the breaking OF the slender
rim Of solar light into BaiIey's beads, the
sudden outburst of the rosy protuberlnces,
the si,very light of the far-reachlng corona,
and that weird pail Of darkness, which for
d few short moments would seem like the
shadow OF The darkness of death were it not
for the immortal stars glimmering through
the veil.
Those who are denied the sight will enjoy
it through the glowing descriptions OF en-
thusiastic observers, and. making the best
OF the inevitable, will observe as philo-
sophically as possible tire partial eclipse eN-
tending over the United States, Mexico, and
British Observation-Disclosures Journal