The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1885-03-28
SCIENCE zP'RoGRESS
The Suns Eclipse.
MIDWAY.
BEGINNING.


world is the eclipse of the sun, which took
place Monday, March 16 In belt about 30
miles wide, beginning on the Pacific coast, in
California, and running up over Hudson's
Bay to Greenland, the eclipse was annular in
North America. That means that the sun
appeared as bright ring around the dark
body Of the moon. The eclipse was annular
because Just at this time the moon is near to
the sum- comparatively. Had it been farther
away the shadow would have been larger, and
the eclipse would have been total in the belt
mentioned. Elsewhere it was a partial one.
In the United States, where visible, it was of
the shape shown in our diagram. Not more
than half the suns disc was obscured, at many
points not that.
Winnipeg, British America, was the far
thest point north and west from which the
event was reported by telegraph. There the
darkness was greatest of any place heard
from. Only 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"
During the eclipse there the temperature fell
many degrees. At the greatest observation
the thermometer went down to IS degrees
below zero, it is said, statement that is diff
of the weird, CHASTITY twilight was something
indescribable. At Winnipeg the eclipse began
at 1890 o'clock in the morning. At New
York it began at about ID minutes past noon.
At intermediate points on the contiEent the
moment of contact was all the way between
those two extremes OF time
In most parts of the country the day was
clear, and afforded fine field for observations.
IN 80 %l,1 II, Invrhf 1aoS
thousands of persons resorted to ON ancient
experiment, which everybody should know.
Darker 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
tiny spot Of light in. Wherever this tiny
spot Of light falls upon the floor there will
appear a very small but perfect image OF the
eclipse, upside down. If you did not know
this before, make note of it, and try it next
eclipse.
Telescope observation developed some in
teresting features. 1t was noticed that the
earth's atmosphere still presented the haziness
which has characterized it since the red sum
sets appeared 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 1855.
Three spots were observed on the suns disc,
and one learned professor announces that
there was a storm in progress on its surface
covering an area Of 81, 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
mountains of the MOON Tremendous peaks,
of height of 10000 feet, were sharply out
lined against the brilliant white Of the sun.
At one point there was seen side view OF a
yawning, dish-shaped valley, with mountain
ranges at each rim, and lofty, conical peak
in the centre. The inhabitants of the earth,
without asking our friends of the moon, if
there are any, have taken the liberty Of giving
names to these mighty lunar mountain ranges.
The RooK and D'Alembert ranges and the
Lunar Cordilleras were all plainly visible
through the telescope, wildly marked against
the sun.
These names may or may not be those given
to the same peaks by the moon people For
some years past. at solar eclipses, astronomers
have made careful researches to detect, If
possible, any sign Of All atmosphere surround
ing the moon. None has ever been discov-
cred. The observations for this purpose were
continued on Monday, with the same negative
result.
At the leading colleges Of the country and
at the Naval Observatory at Washington,
photographs of the eclipse were taken. AT
the Naval Observatory between 80 and go
views were obtained At Amherst College
about so were taken. Professor Maria Mitchell
and her girls at Vassar also secured num-
Der. When these are all printed we shall
know what additional knowledge science re-
ceives from this eclipse.