Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1883-06-15
THE ECLIPSE.
Peculiar Phases of ti"- ;.tcti ih"n"'i'Hh
and the Imposing Features Discovered
by Astronomers.

and the Imposing Features Discovered
by Astronomers.
The line of total observation lies
wholly in the Pacific Ocean. begin
ming at a point within a few hundred
miles of Australia and ending al a
similar distance from South America
The first apparent contact of the moon
against the suns disk III hat line Will
be visible at about 155 degrees of
longitude west Of Greenwich and in
latitude about 3J degrees south of tn"
equator. 1t will describe a circular
path ending at longitude about -
west of Greenwich and latitude II or
Is south. 1t is singular that almost
all valuable solar eclipses are visible
only in barbarous or inaccessible
places. The expeditions sent to view
the approaching eclipse must neces
sarily visit the Pacific Ocean, and to
utilize the event to the greatest ad-
vantage the line of complete eclipse
must be entered upon. The only
islands of any note lying within this
path are the Marquesas, at 40 west
of Greenwich and s south.
1t is we'll known that solar occult
alton or eclipse, which derives its
name from the fact that it is only Wis
ible in the ecliptic, occurs when the
moon in it's monthly path around the
earth passes between us and the sun,
thereby cutting off our usual supply
of light from our luminary and cast
ing the lunar shadow across the ter
restrial disk. 1t follows, of course,
that such observation can only con
tinue for any one place as long time
as is required by the moon to pass
across that portion of her orbit which
equals in extent her own diameter,
and even then it is only the point of
the shadow which reaches the earth.
Another feature may modify this
statement somewhat-th is, that
the moons distance from us may pro
long or shorten the passage according
10 It's position in apogee Or perigee.
1t is affected, too, by the earth's or
bital motion and by the position of
the earth in respect to its perihelion
or aphelion. From these facts it is
deduced that the eclipse continues
longest when the moon is nearest the
earth and the earth is farthest from
the sun, and that it is shortest when
the earth is nearest the sun and the
moon is in the most distant portion
of her orbit from us. The reason is
that when we are at apheliOn and the
moon is in perigee the solar disc is
apparently smaller than at other times
and the lunar disc is larger, and, con
sequently, the moons passage requires
a longer time. On account of the
comparative nearness of the moon
there is no retardation in the appear
anee of the shadow as compared with
the predicted time. The light from
the sun travels at the rate of 1876, 66(
miles per second, and, the moon being
distant only 238,OOO miles, the dis
crepancy amounts only to about a
second and third of time.
The physical features of total
eclipse, apart from its scientific value
are very imposing. There are indi-
cations on every hand that an unusu
al event is about to take place. Dur
ing totality the darkness is frequent
~ so intense that the stars are visible
flowers close, birds seek their resting
places and the entire face of nature
assumes an earthly hue. 1t is some.
times accompanied by sudden and
decided fall OF temperature. In eally
times these occurrences were regarded
with superstitious feelings, which is
shared even now by barbarous PEG
pie. Chambers tells OF singular
custom among the Hindoos. He says
"When during a solar eclipse the
black disc of our satellite is seen ad-
vancing over the sun the natives be
ieve that the jaws of some monster
are gradually eating it up. They
then commence beating gongs and
rending the air with the most dis
cordant screams of terror and shouts
of vengeance. For time their eff
forts are productive of no good re-
sults-the eclipse still progresses.
At length, however, the terrific uproar
has the desired effect on the voraci-
GUS monster; it appears to pause, and
then, like a fish that has nearly swal-
lowed a bait and then rejects it, it
gradually disgorges the fiery mouth
full. The natives then dispense, sat
isfied that they have so successfully
relieved their deity"
Observations during former eclipses
have shown several very striking fea-
lures. It has been noted that i'm
mediately before the beginning and
after the end of total observation
the remaining crescent appears as a
bright band of brilliant points, sep
grated at regular intervals by dark
spaces, giving it the appearance of a
string of beads. This is called Baily's
beads, from the name of the observer
who first described them, Mr.. Francis
Baily. No satisfactory explanation
has yet been given of this phenome-
non, although it is suggested that it
is due to the projection of some of the
lunar mountains upon the solar disk.
The lamentations are too regular to be
explained in that way.
OLD 81 AND HIS ROOSTER.
ND g; 1onEo1 ovor q fou ,,f tho