The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-21
AN ECLIPSE OF THE sun.
Important Astronomical Event for Jan. l.
Mr.. ServiSsT Tells How Ii Will Be Observed.

important Astronomical Event for Jan. l.
Mr.. ServiSs Tells How Ii Will Be Observed.
NEW YORK, Nov. 20.-Mr. Garrett T.. Serviss,
the secretary of the American Astronomical So
ciety, and weli-kncwn lecturer and writer on as
tronomy. was asked to-day what there was Pc
culiar and interesting in the eclipse OF the sun.
which is to occur on the 1st OF January next,
and for the observation of which Harvard Uni
versity has already fitted out . costly expedition
to go to the Pacific coast.
"Well, IL the first place said Mr.. Serviss IAN
eclipse of the sun is always in the highest de-
gree interesting. because there is hardly any
phenomenon OF the heavens at once SO startling,
so beautiful and so awe-inspiring. This is per-
hsps not popularity understood, because the
number of persons who have ever
seen q solar eclipse is very small.
Probably the majority OF astronomers
themselves have never seen one. You under
stand, Of course, that l am speaking of a total
eclipse; millions have seen partial eclip.es. But
in order to see q total eclipse you must be soma
where along q line only a Few miles wide, from
which the moon at the moment that it comes
between the sun and the earth. will be exactly
in line between the eye Of the observer and the
center of the sun. Then the moon for a few
minutes will completely cover the sun. shutting
of its light and heat so effecrually that chickens
60 TO roost. and the observers frequently shiver
with the sudden lowering OF the temperature of
the air. Then, too. with startling suddenness,
those great and mysterious banners OF the sun.
that the astronomers call the corona, are
seen displayed in the sky around the
hidden orb, like vast streamers and
enormou spreading beams Of nebulous light.
Occasionally, with the naked eye, and always
with the telescope. fiery red masses. like huge
tongues OF flame, may be seen projecting beyond
the black edge of the moon at various points
around the border of the hidden sun.
unfortunately. the line of ~toiality, which is
never the same for two eclipses, has q way OF
selecting remote regions of the earth TO be
favored with the wonderful aud magnificent
views that il has to offer, and on this occasion
the United States is peculiarly favored in hav-
ing even . part Of the line running across its
territory.
1.-THE path Of the total eclipse. as it is technic-
allv called, will begin near the center of the
group of the Alsutisn islands, which stretch
across from Alaska to kamtsehatka, and sweep.
ing southwark and eastward over the northern
Pacific ocean will reach the continent
q little north OF San Francisco. 1t
will continue on in q broad curve, turn
ing northward, aud crossing, Nevada, Idaho
and Montana, will end far up in Canada, about
half way between che western end of Lake Su-
perior and Hudson Bay. While only observers
along this line will see the eun totally eclipsed a
partial eclipse will be seen all over the United
States. Here In New York the eclipse will be
just beginning at sunset The further west
You GO tho better chance You will have to seeit.
One reason why this eclipse possesses special
interest Ia that since the last previous total
eclipse that could be observed to advantage very
great, and indeed astonishing. progress has been
made in the art Of astronomical photography.
There Is no greater mystery in the visible uni
verse, perhaps, than the coronal streamers
which | have already described as appearing
around the sun when il Is totally eciipsed. or
course, these strange phenomena are there all
the time. but owing to the effect of the glare Of
sunlight in the earth's atmosphere they
are invisible to Us except during the very few
minutes that the blazing face of the sun remains
hidden by the Opaque body of the moon. They
were first generally recognized as belonging TO
the sun in 1865. and since then on every posi-
bic occasion astronomers have spared no pains
dor expense to study them; going with cumber-
some loads Of instruments to every part OF the
world for that purpose. On this occasion as
Economical photography will be applied with
perhaps better homes OF success than ever be-
fore. Not only will the corona be photographed
as a whole, SO rs 10 retain accurate representa-
tons of its actuas form for comparison with
future ~eclipses, but many careful photographs
will be made OF the spectrum OF the corona.
You, Of course, understand that the purpose Of
this is TO arrive at u knowledge OF the composi-
ton of the corona-what it consists of. There
is a mystery about the composition OF these
banners of the sun that has never yet been solved.
Some have regarded them as consisting OF gas
eous matter surrounding the sun. and being
perhaps the product of election from it. Othe rs
have thought that they might be vast swarms
OF msteors. crowding thick about the sun and
shining in Its light, or perhaps something that
might be hkened to colossal dust clouds sur
rounding that tremendous solar engine to whose
unceasing activity we owe the light. and heat,
and vivifc forces that make tho earth habitable.
IL is hoped that q good deaf Of light will be
thrown upon this question by the observations
OF the coming eclipse. Then again. the observ-
ers on this occasion will have the advantage Of
making their observations in a remarkably clear
atmosphere, for there is no clearer air in the
world than that of California, where the eclipse
observers will 50, ana in addition they will place
their instruments at a high altitude, some .. 200
feet above the sea. thus getting above much OF
the smoke and stir of this dim spot. the earth.
The great advantage of q high altitude from
which to make observations has long been recog-
pized, and has been emphasized within the past
year by the marvellous achievements of the
great Lick telescope mounted on the summit OF
Mount Hamilton, 10 California. By the way,
1t is most unfortunate that the line OF totality
runs between 100 aud 200 miles north of Mount
Hamilton, and as it would be imp.acticsble 10
use 40 large an instrument, il will be impossible
for the astronomers to see this most interesting
eclipse with the most powerful telescope IN the
world. But the Lick Observatory will send
smaller instruments with observers to view the
total phase of the eclipse, while the giant tels-
scope will only have a partial eclipse TO exercise
its powers upor. Upon the whole, | feel sure
that We shall have some very interesting news
in Astronomical circles after this eclipse is over"