Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1884-11-06
THE MOON.
An Account OF the Observation OF the
Recent Eclipse Taken in Europe.
London Telegraph, Oct. Z.

est attention. The nearest of our
neighbLring planets, more of the de
tails of its intimate nature and COP
ditioE is visible To our eyes and
through our telescopes than any view
il is possible to obtain Of the larger
and more distant worlds revolving
round our sun IN space beyond. Thus
the eclipse of the moon is always
subject regarded with wonderment
and with inquisitivenesS. The earth
is always revolving around the solar
center in ceaseless circle, casting lis
shadow away from its solid sphere
Innot ced and unobserved. We look
through that shadow nightly to see
the brilliant twinkliugs of the glorious
stars. But in the depths around the
shadow of the earth falls upon moth
ing to make US aware Of its existence.
If the earth and the moon travelled on
the same plane there would be an
eclipse of the sun and moon every
month, as the moon and the earth cut
Oft one fran the other the light of
the sun. But the moons orbit Is in a
plane differing five degrees from the
elliptic or plane of the orbit of the
earth, so il is only when the relative
position o. the sun, earth, and moon
are such that their centers are IN line
that total eclipse of the sun or moon
can take place. In summer the moon
appears low down, in winter high up
in the sky, the reverse of the appear
ances presented by the sun at those
different seasons; and The reason of
this is clearly seen when we reflect
that those changes in appearance are
due to the obliquity the
of earth's axis, and that
we only look at the moon when
it is opposite to the sun. The orbit of
the moon in respect to position from
that of the earth varies, moreover, to
the extent of seventh of their dis
lance apart, or in actual extent about
81, coo miles. This variation also Pas
its influences upon the appearances of
the moon and causes II to look smaller
or larger, bright or pale, as 1t is near
er or fart. err away. Thus 1t is That
the eclipses of the moon, according as
they happen under particular circum-
stances, have aspects which vary
from time TO time; and consequently,
as all are not alike, there is Interest
attaching to the circumstances Of
every one.
TIE eclipse Of Saturday, which was
seen under exceptionally fine condi
tions, was calculated to commence at
7.16 2. NJ, and to end at II AZ mid
night, the time of the middle of
totalty being 1902 p M. The com
mencement of the eclipse is al ways
reckoned from the first contact of the
penumbra, or that outer cone of
lighter shade produced by the atmos-
phere around our globe, and which
surrounds the ''umbra," or true
shadow, that cuts off the light of the
sun.
AS the sun went down the western
atmosphere glowed with crimson
glare, and the moon rose with pale
green CLEAN IN the opposite skies. AS
higher she rose her silver brightness
increased until high in the clear tran
sparent heavens, at S:15, the first con
tact of the black umEra broke IN upon
her brilliant disc. And as the night
went on the black incson grew deep
er and deeper until at 1921 p. NJ,
the little patch of light remaining
plittered like a small bright star.
Minute by minute the starlike CLEAN
grew fainter and fainter, until at so
z. NJ. the eye had to seek it out like
nebula amongst The stars. AT this
moment through an ordinary teles-
cope or even an opera-glass the aspect
E Al, n
cate, silvery tracery. But through
the great three foot reflector at Ealing
the sight wat exquisite. The face of
the moon, which to the natural eyes
had been bl9tted out, doomed like a
new moon in the earth-glow; the tops
of some of her vastest' mountains and
craters still caught the rays of the
sun and the edge of her darkened disc
was silvered with a marginal outline
of such brightness that her huge globe
seemed to stand out from the dark
blue depths of ugbonnded space.
Some small stars pecrGd from the
remoter depths beyond. Then, as
time again wore on, the light of re-
turning sunshine spread gradually
over the surface Of the moon, and be-
fore the first hour OF the coming Sab
bath she was again radi itlng her
bright and silvery light, undimmed
by penumbral shade, through the I'M
clouded skies.
In many former eclipses the face Of
the moon has been visible during to-
tally glowing with peculiar cop
per colored light, but on this occasion
there wa not trace Of rednesssa at
any time IN the light reflected, and
the observation of the moons exis
tence was complete. All astronomers
are aware OF the excellence of the
| Ealing instrument, and admirable
work which has been accomplished
with it. 1t is a matter Of public in
terest therefore, that this superb in
strument will shortly be removed to
an observatory in the north, and that
| Mr.. Common is about TO build n
larger and finer iBstru-
ment. which will be speedily
adapted for, and employed upon, that
modern most important department,
celestial photography.