The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-07-29
THIS AFTERNOONS ECLIPSE
Prof Edison and O,her snvants Ready TO
Watch the Moons Passage.

The sun will be cclipsed this afternoon by
the passage of the moon between it and the
earth. and although the eclipse will he only par
tial at New York and almost everywhere in the
United States. II will bc total over narrow belt
l1G miles Yiiei sgnni9s from Alaska south
easterly TO the Gulf Of Mexico. The latest total
eclipse Of tho sun visible anywhere in the
United States was on Saturday. Aug. 7, 1869.
II was not total thcn in New York. but much
larger part OF tho suns surface was hidden by
the moon then than will be to-day in this vicin-
ity The belt over which the eclipse was total
in 1869 ran from north to south n thousand
miles further east than it will to-day Then, ms
now. astronomers from all parts Of the earth
visited this country and took observations with
the telescope. photograph. and spectroscope
the results Of which were very important. But
there have been many advances in the study of
solar physics since 1869. Instruments are more
delicate. the existence OF solar bodies Of some or
between Mercury and the sun has been almost
certainly demonstrated. the distance Of the sun
from the earth has been discovered to be nearly
two million miles less than II was supposed to
be In 1869. and Edison has lust finished his
wonderful heat mcasurer. which he will use to-
day 10 determine certain facts regarding the
heut in solar rays
In the report Of tho eclipse Of 1869 in THE
Sun the next day. the pecularities noticeable
In this city were described as follows: The
clouds turned to a dark umber color. the
shadow was Ot n yellow brown, the water muddy
looking, the trees md grass very green, but
with II yollowish tint. such ms is seen in the
afternoon after n thunder shower"
dh9s9 HerEarb,,es VII not 1e S, so strongly
glass or tinted spectnclcs. the sun can be easily
watched and fully as much seen Of the, eclipse
as ran be with ordinary telescopes. The edge
Of the moon will appear .up the lower edge Of
the sun in New York at 4:l9 7. VI; 1t will cover
small ssscgm1,ent Of tho suns surface and pas;
Tow, unless previously looking for it, would
notice T. 1t is very different from The shadow
thut will bc cast by the total covering Of the sun
by the moon on the belt previously mentioned.
That shadow will fall first on the earth at "A
point IN siberia. and will then pass over Bchr-
and enter the United States mt Montana. Fol-
lowing southcnstcrly direction. the. shadow
viii full upon belt running through Wyoming
Colorado, Indian Territory. Texas. and lcav-
ing the United states at point on the boundary
ne between louisiana and TcSas. II will cross
the Gull Of Mexico. Cuba. and leave the earth
entirely at about sunset timc. In the Caribbean
10 provide against the contingency Of a
cloudy sky the astronomers who have decided
10 observe tho eclipse where 1t is total agreed
total obscnration. In this way should 1t be bad
weather in ono location. the chances are that
In some one or more of the others there may be
u clear sky. one Of the largest parties is sta
toned at r. ston. Wyoping, under the charge
Ivdn "a Prof! Han Wr,ih,tt Il VA. errSgr' rgr'
Rogers, and Wheeler will take photographs OF
the eclipse and corona, while at the same place
search for planets and make drawings Of tho
corona. Gen. Myer AMI two assistants from
the Weather Bureau will be ~ the Pixies PEAK
Signal Onice. Near Denver Prof. Young will
make ol lserVHtions with the spectroscope and
at Fort Worth. Texas. Prof. Walsh Of tho Cam
bridge Observatory Will tako observations. A
party OF English scientists are at Fort Lyon,
Col. Edison is at Rawlins. Wy. with Profs
Barker and Draper OF the Penn University.
He will try to ascertain by means of his
taximctcr whether the corona Of the sun throws
out any heat
Tho most Immediately important result OF
these observations will be the correcting OF the
lunar and tide tables OF the nautical almanac.
Such corrections are OF very great advantage to
| all maritime interests. Another object that the
astronomers have in view is to determine finally
whether there Is any planet or interplanetary
| body between the sun and the planet Mercury
or not and still another is 10 learn Just what the
| corona. that is observed around the moon dur
ing nm eclipse is. II Is certain that IL contains
| gas unknown TO scientists.
One OF the most beautiful OF the phenomena
| may be noticed in New York during the eclipse.
| The sunlight making shadows on the ground
or "A wall assumes a crescent shape. the crescent
waxing and waning as the eclipse progresses
and rejecting an image Of the whole phenom-
CuOQ.