Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-01-29
THE MOONS ECLIPSE
SHADOW or TIE Earth THROWS UPON
IT'S sHININe FAtE.
Thousands Of People in Richmond Make
Observations aid Comments Upon
the Spectacle.
TIE eclinso was on schedule time.


Not only that, but all the conditions
for successful observation of it were
good, excepting only that the weather
was decidedly cold, and it required the
curiosity of a scientist 10 stand the chilli
ness which came over ones body while
on the street or on n hOusetop to get
favorable viewf However, there were
thousands here who went forth, many
with opera-glasses, to see exactly what
an eclipse of the moon meant.
The moop rose eclipsed, say, ut DO
the totality having begun at 5:33. Tins
the most interesting part, popularity
considered gradual spreading of
the darkness over the bright surface
was not visible. So far as any one here
was able to determine, all the points OF
the eclipse as predicted were verified
with much exactness-the time Of begin
ming, the duration, the point at which
the shadow left the moon, the peculiar
red-coppery appearance due to the small
amount Of light sent to the moon by the
earths atmosphere and then reflected
back by the moon to our eyes-all these
predicted appearance were well exhibit
ed.
A total eclipse of the moon, though
striking phenomenon, and one that gives
manifest and convincing proof OF the
astronomers intimate acquaintance with
the machinery of the celestial motions,
is not in itself an event of great astrO-
nOmical importance. Astronomers ira
verse half the globe to have two
minutes view Of solar eclipse, and find
in its incidents profound limitations
and reveabngs as to the structure
and workings of our solar system
but he passes by almost unheeded
the striking and impressive total eclipse
OF the moon. Yet the astronomer may
feel satisfaction in observing, as doubt
less the astronomers did last evening,
that the exact verifcation of his predic-
tons in every particular is the highest
possible vinGication of the precision OF
his knowledge, and affords the strongest
possible basis of confluence in whatever
statements as to the universe he may ask
the unscientifc world to believe.
SOME VALUABLE RESULTS PROBABLE.
The following is from the Washington
STIR of Yesterday afternoon
"The eclipse of the moon that occurs
tonight is rather an important event in
astronomy" said Professor Paul, of the
Naval Observatory, TO reporter tins
morning. 81 don't mean, of course,
that it is an uncommon event, but that
owing to certain preparations that have
been made and certain objects that are
in view, it will probably be productive
OF valuable results. Professor Otto
Strive, q brother of the Russian Minister
here and director of the Imperial Observa-
tory ut Pulkowa. has been busy for
long time past making preparations for
the event, and if we have good luck we
shall undoubtedly be able to obtain
very correct calculation Of the semi
diameter, or the real size Of the moon.
Let me explain: When the moon is in
total eclipse the light is almost blotted
out, and the presence Of the stars that
happen to be near by is made visible.
These are called occultations. Now,
Strive has been getting up maps show
ing the OCCUPATIONS that are probable at
this time, and calculated to suit the To-
cation of nearly every observatory in the
world. His object is to obtain a great
many observations Of the OCCUPATIONS
from all quarters of the globe, and
thereby get very nearly accurate calcu-
lation Of the moons parallax, which
means its angle of observation above
the centre of the earth. From this is
easily obtained the semi diameter, and
from that the true size. We shall proba-
bly, be unable to do very complete work
on this eclipse, for the first portion of it
occurs so near the horizon that the OBJ
seryatiOns will be clouded. But we shall
work all Of the Instruments at the obser-
vatorv. and unless it becomes very much
colder we shall work out on the roof.
1.-The advantage OF this system OF OBJ
servations is that by means of so much
data the liability of error is almost elimi-
mated. / think that this will be only the
second time that the plan has been
tried