, 1885-04-04
SCIENCE PROGRESS


90.
BEGINNING. MmwAY END.
Tn most interesting event in the scientific
world is the eclipse OF the sun, which took
place Monday, March 10. In a belt about 20
miles wfde, beginning on the Pacific coast, in
California, and running up over Hudson's
Bay 10 Greenland, the eclipse was annular in
North America. That means that the sun
appeared rs a bright ring around the dark
body Of the moon The eclipse was annular
because just at this time the moon is near 70
the sun, comparatively. Had II been farther
away the shadow would have been larger, and
the eclipse would ave been total In the belt
mentioned. Elsewhere 1t was a partial one,
an The United States, where visible, IL was OF
the sEnpe shown In our diagram. Not more
.ha1 hs.f the suns disc was obscured, at many
points not that.
Winnipeg, British America, was the far
thest point north and west from which tho
event was reported by telegraph. There the
darkness was greatest of any place heard
from. Only n thin crescent Of light appeared
above the moons shadow, and at the moment
OF densest observation lit looked as though
the sun was going TO be swamped altogether. p"
During the eclipse there the temperature fell
many degrees. At the greatest observation
the Thermometer went down TO 80 degrees
below zero, Il Is said, a statement that is diff
cult TO believe, even for Winnipeg. The effect
Of the weird, ghastly twilight was something
indescribable. At Winnipeg the eclipse began
at 1890 O'Clock In the morning. At New
York 1t began at about 10 minutes past noon.
At intermediate points on the continent the
rnornanf - n~.k.e Ill a.. nav I.Nuta..
those two extremes OF time.
In most parts OF the country the day was
clear, and afforded fine field for observations
To get an image of the eclipse doubtless
thousands Of persons resorted to an ancient
experiment, which everybody should know.
Darken a room by hanging over the win
dows heavy blinds, a black oilcloth screen, or
anything which will shut out the light.
Pierce this screen with pinhead holes, TO let a
tiny spot Of light in. Wherever this tiny
spot OF light falls upon fhe floor there will
appear a very small but perfect image Of the
eclipse, upside down. II you did not know
this before, make a note Of 1t, and try it next
eclipse.
Telescope observation developed some in
teresting features. II was noticed that the
earth's atmosphere still presented the haziness
which has characterized IL since the red nun
sets appeared a year ago last fall. These are
believed to be due to floating matter still in
the atmosphere from the tremendous volcanic
eruption Of Krakatoa, In the summer of 1888.
Three spots were observed ON the suns disc,
and one learned professor announces that
there was a storm in progress on it, surface
covering an area OF 50, 900 square miles. The
most interesting feature Of all, however, to
those who had the opportunity of looking
through a good telescope, was the mighty
rnouufafna nf the moon TrapnanAona r.aalro
of a height Of 5000 feet, were sharply out
lined against the brilliant white OF the sun.
At one point there WINS seen a side view of a
yawning, dish-shaped valley, with mountain
ranges at each rim, and a lofty, conical peak
In the centre. The Inhabitants OF the earth,
without asking our friends Of the moon, II
there are any, have taken the liberty of giving
names to these mighty lunar mountain ranges.
The Rock and D'Alembert ranges and the
Lunar Cordilleras were all plainly visible
through the elescope, wildly marked against
the sun.
These names may or may not DO those given
To the same peaks by the moon people. For
some years past. at solar eclipses, astronomers
nave made careful researches to detect, IL
possible, any sign Of an atmosphere surround
ing the moon None has ever been discov-
cred. The observation for this purpose were
continued ON Monday, with the same negative
result.
At the leading colleges of the country, and
at the Navnl Observatory at Washington,
photographs OF the eclipse were taker. At
the Naval Observatory between 80 and 60
views were obtained. At Amherst College
about 50 were taken. Professor Maria Mitchell
and her girls at Vassar also secured a num-
Der. When these are all printed we shall
know what additional knowledge science re-
ceives from this eclipse.