Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1885-04-10
ANGULAR ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

ANGULAR ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.
The Weather Seriously Interferes with
th. observations in Some Localitles-Ex'
celIcnt Views Obtained, However, at
r sev,ral Points, Winnipeg Being the
Most.Fayored-Facts Regarding Coming
Eclipses.
oEscuEED BY LUNA.
CHICAGO, March flowing to the
cloudy condition Of the sky the annrlar
eclipse of the sun possessed but little Ill
tetest to Chicagoans. This was the first
annular eclipse which has been visible IN
the United States for thirty years, and the
first visible in this latitude since chicago
was founded. The path on the earth az
which the complete annulus was vlslDle
extended in a curve from Northern Califor-
mia through Oregon, the Hudson Bay re-
gion. Greenland to Iceland. In this latitude
the eclipse was visible only as a partial one,
seven-tenths of the sun disk being Cd
scured at the time OF greatest contact, the
remainder appearing as a bright crescent.
At Chicago the eclipse began at l0:47
a. M. and ended at 1888. During the
brief intervals at which the clouds permit
ted a view of the phenomenon, many per-
SOILS COulu U6 SCCu gazing Oio GAAoNSA
mol1ed glasses or with the naked eye. AT
the Dearborn Observatory Prof. Hough took
such observations as the clouds rendered
possible, and secured several Photographic
negatives.
The word annular comes from annulus,
signifying a ring, and is applied to an
eclipse such as that which occurred yester-
day, because at the central time of contact
the moon does not obscure the whole OF the
SUMS disk, but, appearing smaller In size,
leaves a luminous ring on the outside.
WINNIPEG, Manitoba, March 17.-The
eclipse yesterday morning was first OBJ
served at 10 h., 8 NJ, 5 s., mean or solar
time, or at about 1890 o'clock standard
time. A black mask crept slowly over the
suns face until merely a slender crescent of
brilliant light remained, the moment OF
greatest observation being exactly noon by
standard time. Instead of a warm, brilliant
twilight the light of day was changed to a
pale, sickly sunlight, which was very ghast-
ly and by which everything looked unnatural.
Gradually the dark body of the moon moved
off from the face of the sun, and by fifty
nine minutes and forty seconds past twelve
o'clock sunlight once more Illuminated the
face of the land; no official observation was
made, which is much regretted, as this is
the most northern and western city where
it could have been observed. An unofficial
observation was made. The thermometer
went down many degrees at the time Of the
greatest observation, and SO degrees below
zero was registered.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, March 17.-Un-
favorable weather prevented the taking Of
satisfactory observations of the eclipse yes
terday. OF the interior points the best OBJ
Servations were made at Yreka, which is
just within the annular belt. The
weather was clear and the view
perfect No important scientific OBJ
servations were taken at any point.
The eclipse wa Plainly visible here from a
few minutes past eight O'Clock until 1928.
A slight fog prevailed, SO that the phenome-
non could be observed with the naked eye
without discomfort. The greatest obscurity
was about Oil o'clock, when a little more
than half the face of the sun was obscured.
WASHINGTON, March 17.-Heavy clouds
obscured the sunthe greater part of the after
noon, so but few observations Of the eclipse
could be taken. A fraction more than one
half of the sun was covered at one time,
as observed from this point, and
this was the greatest portion concealed dnr-
ing the afternoon. While prevented from
taking as many observations and photo
graphs as desired, officers at the observa-
tory expressed themselves as well pleased
with those obtained.
ST. PAUL, Mimi, March IA clear,
cold day afforded a fine view of the eclipse
at all stages. Several local astronomers and
professors at the State University and at
Carleton College made careful observations.
The streets were filled with interested
spectators. During the period of the great
est observation the sun appeared a little
enlarged. The light was about like that
OF the full moon OF a clear night, while the
thermometer fell several degrees.
PITTSBURGH, Pa, March l7.-The eclipse
of the sun was not seen here very well yester-
day, owing to the prevalence of a heavy
snoW-storm. Arrangements had been made
for careful observations at the Allegheny
Observatory by Professor Langley, but the
overcast condition OF the sky caused great
disappointment.
BOSTON, March 17.-Roofs and windows
were crowded here yesterday with specta-
tors of the solar eclipse. At Harvard OBJ
servatory Prof. Pickering and three as
slstants at an early hour yesterday morning
tions. Contact was first noted at
l@:20:7 O'Clock, exactly nine seconds
later than the time computed by
Robert Trealpaine. At the time of the
greatest observation the moon covered a
little over t%ive-nintls of the SUMS surface.
At 3:12 the eclipse ended. This was the
last annular eclipse that will occur in the
present century. The next eclipse in tbs
United States will take place in the
afternoon OF January 1, 1883. The
moons shadow will then pass over
Colsa, CAL, and over a narrow strip
east OF that town to the place where the
sun will set. This will be the return of the
total eclipse of November so, 1884. The
next total eclipse of the sun in the Atlantic
States will occur i'll the forenoon of Nav 20.
1900. The moons shadow will then pass
from New Orleans to Norfolk, and thence
across the ocean to Europe.