Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-03-14

ECLIPSE IN THE NORTHWEST, &C.
Persons who have time and inclination 70
take note of What is going on in the solar sys-
tenn outside of the narrow range of their own
business or social relations should get their
smoked glass ready before noon next Monday
The partial solar eclipse due on that day will
begin about noon and last two hours and half
To be exact, according TO the figures of DR..
Morrison, of the Nautical Almanac office the
eclipse begins here March 16d. 11h. SIM. IS
am, aud ends 2h. 3Sm. las. pm. According
to what the astronomers refer TO as New Jersey
time, The standard time of the city. the eclipse
will begin about five minutes after twelve The
northern limb, or popularity speaking, the up
per side of the sun will be eclipsed or obscured
by the moon. smoked glass is generally re-
garded afiording the best readily available
means of observing the sun during an eclipse.
candle or q burning lamp wick. Astronomers
generally use colored glasses or goggles, which
they keep on. On hand M If for n such purposes.
naval observatory to get full and perfect obser-
yyations in case the weather permits: Ensign
observations using the apparatus with which
Prof Hardness obtained photographs of the sun
during the transit Of Venus In / $50 This mp
paratus is located in the observatory grounds
In the rear OF the observatory building. 1t is
the same as that used with great success at all
eminent both in s74 and I'M $50, for observing
the transit of Venus The apparatus consists or
a telescope nearly forty feet In length fixed in
mirror OF reflector of polished glass SO adjusted
that by it the rays fthe sun are thrown into
the object glass. Nearly forty feet away at the
focus of the glass where image of the sun
about four and quarter inches in diameter is
formed, Is the Photographic plate holder. The
instruments are very delicately and accurately
adjusted, SO that the exact scale Of the photo
graph can be determined. The mirror Is held
In a frame. which is turned by clockwork fol-
lowing the motion of the sun, in such way
that Its ravS always reflected into the oh.
1t Is expected that If the day is fair fifty or
hundred photographs will be obtained These
will form u record which can be studied at
leisure afterwards.
I'VE shall Also said Prof Asaph Hall to a
STAR reporter, make observations with other
telescopes, but we rely upon these photographs
for permanent record"
"What else has been done about the eclipse?'
asked the reporter.
I'VE have sent out notices to the northwest"
said Prof Hall. THE eclipse will be annular in
Montana. Idaho and the northern part of Cali
iornia-that is, the moon will appear, sur
rounded by ring of light. We have sent out
circulars to various places along the line of an
nular eclipse giving such instructions as are
necessary t3 secure observations that will be
nails from this observatory, both on the 9Th
and 18th, having made arrangements to trans
Nd 1 them oyer the telegraph lines along the
time"
This eclipse" continued the professor twill
not be SO interesting, either from the popular or
the scientific standpoint as total eclipse when
the suns corona and the great red flames
tptting out from the sun become visible Ii has
interest for as tronomers because it will enable
them To observe the relative positions OF the
sun and moon. We will take observations of
the contacts with our telescopes"
The great equatorial telescope at the observa-
tory will not be used in making these observa-
lions OF the contacts as they can be made more
conveniently and with as good effect With
other telescopes.