Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-12-20
rHr Eo1rpsn or IANuARY I.
Preparations Made for ihe Event
by the Lick Observatory.

Preparations RGade for lhe Event
by the Lick Observatory.
Preparations for observing the total
eclipse of the sun on New Years day by
parties from the Lick observatory are
almost completed. Observing parties
from number Of colleges In the e0steYn
states and few from Europe have either
already established themselves or are on
their way westward. IA tho eclipse
occurs in the rainy season, the uncer-
tainty Of their being clear weather In any
portion Of the limited section Of this
couhtry where tolaiity will obtain ia in
crsased consequently larger number
of parties than usual has been asnt ont
with n view toward taking as many
chances as possible to obtain sGtiafac-
tory obyersation of the phenomena Mt
tending the eclipse of the Sun, but TO
have az careful a search as the abort
space Of time to which the duration OF the
eciipae is limited will allow for the undis-
covered planet, or whatever elee the
cause Of the disturbance may be-, between
the sun and Mercury.
Il is thought that owing 10 the high
state of efficiency 10 which photography
as applied to the celestial bodies has
been brought II is now possible to vet i'm
prsosioiis of the orbits of all the planets,
AID the failure TO discover thu one inter.
fering with Mercu.y'e regularity OF move.
mant would DO strong, though perhaps
act conclusive, evidence tina. 1t does not
exist
Other problems which ii is hoped may
now be brought to successful solution
relate to the sun's corona, tho intensity
and amount of light, and the photograph
ing OF the spectrum, for which several
delicate end ingenious instruments have
been constructed. Astronomers ani
othefs interested in the study Of the
photosphera and coIona, whieo give US
SO much knowledge Of the suti's stinos-
phere and surroundings, regret that Con.
2Tess paid no heed to the request for a
small appropriation msds by the Nayal
Observatory for the fitting ont OF govern
lrsnt expeditions, and that in conse-
qaeros, with the exception OF some ob-
pstyations directed to DO II Ids by the eff
csrs of the coast survey, there will be
nothing Goue by tho government IL IL
Vel for the cSuse OF eel ance that tbs
Lick observatory takas much more iio-
erai view OF the great subject which
ofters anch Important data for the ups Of
the Atpde,.t OF science.
Unfortunately, We ahall ECO bat little
OF the eoiinse in this part + the United
States, wher0 tho sun seta es partially
collapsed only, New York state being
among the post easterly that will he
Favored With even this meagrs portion Of
tho entertainment. Totally Will obtain
in tho territory embraced in line from
the Alcutian Islauds, on the coast Of
Alaska, in q southfa3teriy direction,
touching The coaat Of California in the
vicinity Of Punta Arenas, about 100 mites
north Of san Francisco, at which point
the most northerly station of the Lick
Observatory ia established. Tbs line OF
totslity then goes northeast Though q
portion OF Central British America, ieoy.
lpg the earth between Hulson's bay and
Lake Superior
This eclipse will be followed before the
expiration of 1889 by two eclipses of tho
sun and two Gclipsss Of tho moon. On
January 18th there viii &c a partial
eclipse of the moon, Visible in Washing
ton aud generally in Europe and North
and South America. On june eth there
will no IN annular eclipse nf tbs sun, not
visible here, being chiefly confined 10
countries south OF Tho eq1ator, the Island
OF Tristan du Cunds beiug one Of the
posts from which observations may pos
sibly be taken. A partial eclipse Of the
moon will occur on July 18Th, invisible
at Washington, but generally visible in
the eastern hemisphere. The magnitude
OF this eclipse will be .4S6 OF the moons
diameter. Tho eclipses for tho yesr end
toward ito close with another total eclipse
nj thn on, 'f'ir ''iae en- paee.the- oal
aad ado iaE,aibis ~ Gh.a prf. d t5e
uaited statea, tho region q Visibility en-
rrae.ng the southern part Of Aaia, Africa,
the northern portion OF South America,
and little of our coast line from south
ern Florida to Ospe RsttarGs, thence well
OF the coast &c Nova Scotia, where it
occurs about sunrise on the 2ad.