National Republican., 1883-02-23
AnARK DAY COMING.
Something About the Total Solar Eclipse
that Is TO Occur on the Sixth OF May.
Providence Journal

providence journal.
The total eclipse of the sun occurs on the
sixth Of May. The sun and moon, the chief
actors in the grand display, regardless Of the
convenience of terrestrial observers, have To-
Gated the scene of operations in the southern
Pacific ocean. The line Of totality sweeps
over vast extent of watery waste, including
in its passage only two small islands, where
the eclipse can be seen to advantage These
two islands are Caroline island and Flint
island. The former is about ten miles In cir
cumierence, and is inhabited by thirty ma
tives Of the Malay race and one white
man. The latter is five or six miles in
circumference, and is, we believe, unin-
habited. Both islands are out Of tho beaten
track Of those who 20 down to the sea in
ships. But small as the islands are, and
difficult as they are to reach, the wise men
who wish to study the eclipse, and all others
who desire TO witness the most glorious celes-
tial phenomenon that ever takes place, will
have to congregate on these two little islands.
Thousands of miles of ocean must be tra-
versed, and all manner of privations and
hardships must be endured in order to behold
the awe-inspiring spectacle. But never yet
in the history Of the human race have any
difficulties in the way prevented Jealous men
of science from attempting to fathom the mys-
teries that enshroud our celestial neighbors.
Two French expeditions are being equipped,
one to observe the eclipse at Caroline island
aud the otherat Flint island. Tho British ma
ton will not allow their neighbors across the
channel to outdo them in scientific research,
and will, doubtless, send an observing party to
Caroline island. The Americans are now
strongly agitating the question of sending some
of the best astronomers to the same fortunate
island and there is little doubt that the means
will be forthcoming. Amateur astronomers
are debating the question of joining the expe-
dition, and the prospect is that when the sixth
of May dawns a colony of scientists from many
quarters Of the globe will beassembled in this
lone island of the Pacific to find out what Sc
crets they can discover while the face of his
majesty, the sun, is veiled from mortal view.
Tho eclipse of May next is especially favor
able for observation on account of the long
duration Of totality, which will amount in
some localities to nearly six minutes. The
longest time total solar eclipse can last is
not quite seven minutes. The eclipse OBJ
served last year in Egypt lasted only seventy
two seconds and it is rare event for an
eclipse to last nearly six minutes, rs will be
the case with the coming eclipse. Caroline
island is situated in 73o 20' west longitude
from Washington, and in 90 40 south latitude.
The duration of totality there will be five
minutes and twenty seconds. Flint island is
situated in 13o 40 west longitude from Wash
mgton, and in 10 30 south latitude. The
duration of totality there will be five min
utes and thirty-three seconds.
The approaching eclipse Is therefore very
important one, on account of the unusually
long continuance of the total phase; for the
law is, the longer the totality the more favora-
BILE are the conditions for observation. Astron-
omers will do their best to increase their
stock of knowledge on three important points,
two (which are connected with the surround
ings of the sum- never revealed except on the
rare occasions of total solar eclipse. They
hope in tho first place to add something to
what has already been learned during
previous eclipses concerning the corona,
especially in regard to the immense
appcndages which branch out from the
corona in all directions; to find out
whether they are dependencies of the coronal
atmosphere, or whether they are swarms OF
mctcOrs circulating around the sun. In the
| second place, they will make q study of the
zOdiacal light and its relation to the suns sur.
roundings. In the third place, they will care.
| fully search for the small intra- -Mcrcurial
| planets that probably circulate in the imme-
diate neighborhood OF the sun, and which can
only be seen when making transit over his
disk, or during total solar eclipse. The spec
troscopist, the photographer, and the observers
with the naked eye will do their allotted
| parts in the difficult and delicate work. Tho
tropical locality Of the places of observation
is favorable for clear weather on the moment.
Gus occasion, and there is reason to hope that
| discoveries will be made and observations con
frmed that will render illustrious the astro
nomicd annals of 1883.