Daily Republican., 1881-06-06
Eclipse OF the Moon.
for the REPUBLICAN.

Written for the REPUBLICAN.
MESSRs. EDITORS There Is scarcely
anything in nature so sublime and awe.
inspiring as u total eclipse of the Sun OF
Moon, though it is probably due in a
portion of the Globe; and If it occurred
frequently, we would take no more no
tice of it, than if caused by a cloud
passing before the face of those lumi-
| naries.
About midnight of the 18th and 18th
of this month, If it prove clear, (Which
is rather doubtful If we must believe
Vennor) we will have the opportunity,
seldom offered, of witnessing total
eclipse Of the Moon.
Owing to the orbit of the Moon not
being in the ecliptic, but, inclined to it
at an angle Of about five degrees, she
usually passes above or below the Sun
at New Noon, or the Earths shadow
at Full Moon. Twice in the year, how
ever, the Sun must pass the Moon $
nodes, or points of intersection of the
Moon orbit with the ecliptic; at which
time the moon is sure to overtake him
before he can reach distance far enough
from the node to escape eclipse. Con-
sequently there are always two solar
eclipses of greater or less magnitude in
one year. The greatest possible num-
Der of eClipses in one year, is seven, in
which case five are solar and two are
lunar.
For those who possess a spy-glass or
telescope, it will be interesting to OBJ
serve the small star CD Ophinchi, of
the fifth magnitude; which, according
to the nautical almanac, is occulted by
the moon at 13 minutes of l o'clock,
Washington mean time, (Which is about
8 minutes slower than Wilmington time)
which takes place about 10 minutes be-
fore the moon is entirely obscured. 1t
will appear TO linger on the eastern
limb of the moon, which, being in the
shadow of the earth will be almost in
v v'Sibie; and if the star be carefully
watched, it will disappear 80 quickly rs
to startle the observer with the impress
sion that it had been blotted from ex-
istence. This proves the fact, that the
stars, from their great distance shine
merely as points of light, and have no
sensible diameter even in the most pow
different with the planets, which disap-
pear gradually behind the edge of the
moon.
In ancient times, when the science of
Astrology was more advanced than that
of Astronomy, and the true motions of
the planets were not known, eclipSes of
the sun and moon caused wide spread |
terror, as forerunnerS Of some terrible |
az betokening the anger of
the Gods, or the downfall of kingdom
and uncivilzed nations look upon them
as such to the present day.
An eclipse of the moon which occurred
March LIST, 1904, proved of great service
to Columbus. During one of his voy-
ages Of exploration his ship was wrecked
On the coast of Jamaica, and he and his
crew reduced to the verge of starvation.
The natives refused to supply him with
and knowing that an eclipse
Of the moon would take place that night,
he took advantage of their Ignorance of
Astronomy to save himself and men.
"a ling the native around him he told
hem that the Great Spirit was dis
pleased with them for treating the
Spaniards so, and that he would hide
lis face from them that night. Dark
less came on and in due time the eclipse
llso. When the natives beheld their
lefty slowly shrouding his face, they
fastened in great dismay to Columbus,
with a plentiful supply of food, be-
'eeching him to ask the Great Spirit TO
'eceive them again into favor. W. L.