Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-12-31
THE ECLIPSE.
It Brings Many Astrono'
mers to California.
THE VALUE OF OBSERVATIONS.
What the Scientists Expect to DO
TO-MOrrOw-" The Planet
of Romance"

What the scientists expect 10 u
Tomorrow" The Planet
of Romance"
Tomorrow there will be d total eclips
.of the sun in the northern part OF tn
State. A total eclipse of the sun i
always most interesting phenomenon
even to the unscientific mind. But #
the scientist it is a momentous and i'm
portant event, as such an eclipse afford
opportunity for studying terrestria
phenomena and deciding cosmic prob
lens of the most vital Importance no
otherwise possible. Therefore, as th'
time for an eclipse approaches, the en-
tire astronomical world is agog with in
,terest and the most elaborate and ex
haustive preparations are made for OBJ
serving and profting by the event
Parties of distinguished astronomers
from all parts of the world are already Al
the favorable points for taking
observations. The eclipse is o
special interest and importance
to astronomers, owing to the very
marked improvement in certain astrono
mical instruments during the past few
years. Nearly all the European govern
ments including Russia made appropri'
ations for sending parties to this State te
observe the eclipse; but the United
States made no such provision, and but
for the public spirit of the citizens of a
few cities in this country, America would
have no representatives in the field
Willows, San Jose county, will be the
point of observation for several parties
and others have established themselves
at points not far distant.
There are two great problems which
it is hoped, will be solved by observa
tions taken during this eclipse: 1st. The
physical problem of the corona, what
com poses it and how it is held in space
about the sun and, End, the geometrical
problem of the moons contacts with
the sun. These, very briefly stated, are
the principal problems which observers
will attempt to solve at this eclipse, anC
thev include innumerable problems O.
minor importance.
About the dark body of the moon
which entirely covers the SUMS surface
is seen a halo of filmy light, growing
denser and brighter as the SUMS disc il
approached, and with two or more long
streamers of light, not unlike the tail o
a comet, extending off into space. This
is technically known as the corona
and it's composition and the force
which propels it into and holds il
out in space are among the mos
important and interesting questions nov
engaging the attention of astronomers
There are three theories regarding the
corona, as follows: First, that it is COM
posed of cosmical dust held in suspen
sion in space by electrical repulsion
Second, that it is composed Of meteorit
matter, revolving around the sun and
third, that it is composed partly of gases
and partly of finely divided matter
thrown up by terrific storms.
THE CORONA.
The latter theory is generally accepted
by the best authorities as the most prob
able, though neither of them is authenti
Gated. There is mysterious connection
between the earth and the corona, whose
nature, extent and force are very imper
fectly understood. 1t is believed to infu
ence the earth's motion and also to have
some connection with the aurora borealis
The discovery of the nature of the
elements composing the corona and thu
force which controls it, will eventually
decide these questions, together Will
many more.
The observation of contacts, i. g., the
exact instant when the edge OF the moor
touches the edge Of the sun in approach
ing, and the exact time when the moor
clears the disc of that body in leaving
will enable astronomers to calculate thu
precise moment when straight lint
would pass through the centre of th'
sun, moon and earth. This knowledge
is of the utmost importance, as i
enters into almost every cosmica
problem. 1t has been known fol
some time that the earth's day is slowl,
very slowly lepgthening-at the rate
of about two seconds in century. By
observing the contacts of the sun anc
moon, this problem can be definitely
solved, and the exact rate at which W.
are gaining time can be determined
The lengthening OF the earth's day ii
caused by the action of the tides. Th'
earth revolves from west to east, and tn,
tides move from east to west twice eacl
day. The movement Of this immens'
body of water in direction opposite t.
that of the earth acts like friction
brake and is slowly checking the earth
speed around it's axis. 1t will be some
thing like million years, however, be
fore it will be necessary to add anothe
hour to clock dials.
THE PLANET VULCAN.
One of the most interesting and not tn
least important features of the eclips
will be the search for the intermercuria
planet, Vulcan. The existence OF thi
planet is a mooted question among as
tronomers.
About 100 years ago some obscure Oh
server agitated the astronomical worl
with the statement that he had discover
ed new planet much nearer the su
than Mercury, and considerably smalle
than any of the other planets i
the system. La Verrier, Frenc
astronomer, first brought the myste
rious planet into prominence about fort
years ago, and long before that it wa
.christened Vulcan. 1t is a noteworth
fact, however, that no experienced OF
server ever claimed to have seen the ne
planet until few years ago. Durin
the total eclipse of 1898 the distinguish
astronomer, Professor Watson, of An
Arbor University, devoted his er
tire attention to q search fe
Vulcan. The difficulty is that the plane
if it exists, is so email that it woul