The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-31

very slowly lenghening, at the rate Of about
two seconds in q century. by observing
the contacts OF the sun and the moon, this
problem can be definitely solved, and tho
exact RITE at which We are gaining time
can be determined. The lengthening Of
the carth's day is caused by the action of
the tides. The earth revolves fran west
to east, and the tide moves from east TO
west twice each day. The movement OF
this immense body OF water in direction
opposite TO that OF the earth acts like u
friction brake and is slowly checking the
earth's speed around its axis. 1t will DO
something like 100000 years, however,
before 1t will be necessary TO add another
hour 10 our clock dials.
There are many other technical problems
of importance which will DO solved by this
means, including the weight and motion
OF the moon, the mass OF the earth, a,c
THE PLANET VULCAN.
One Of the most interesting and not the
least impVrtan, feature OF tho eclipse will
be the search for the intorm0rcnral planet,
Vulcan. Tho existence OF tins planet is a
mooted question among astronomer.
About 100 years ago some obscure OBJ
server ag.tatod the astronomical world
with the statement that he had discovered
a new planet much nearer the sun than
Mercury, and considerably smaller than
any of the other planets In the system.
La Nerrier, a French astronomer, first
brought the mysterious planet into promi-
nence about forty years ago, and long be-
foro that II was chrisened Vulcan. II is
n noteworthy fact, however, that no expo
rienced observer ever claimed TO have seen
h.
ing the tota! eclipse of 1873 the distin-
gulshed astronomer Prof Watson, OF Ann
Arbor University, devoted his entire ut
tenlion TO a search for Vulcan. The dill.
Guilty Is that the planet, II IL exist, Is 80
small that II would readily be coniounded
with star. Also, owing 10 its position
in the solar system, II sets almost simulta-
neously with the sun, aud rises about
daylight Therefore, the only time Il
could be seen would be during an eclipse
Of the sun. Prof. Watson prepared him
self for the search by studying the heavens
in the vicinity OF the sun for weeks before
the eclipse, aud thoroughly familiar
lied himself with the appearance
and position OF every star in that
quarter. At the time Of the eclipse lao
saw u strange body which he believed TO
DO the mysterious planet in close vicinity
to the sun. Prof. Watson il now dead,
and cannot take part in tho search for
Vulcan next New Years day, but the fact
that No distinguished an observer believed
he had seen the planet ut last has greatly
strengthened the belief In lis existence,
and ON this occasion there will be u very
general and careful search for Vulcan.
Owing 10 the mystery and uncertainty
which have attached 10 the planet for
more tam 100 ycars, Il has been called
1.-THE Planet Of Romance" There are
certain reasons for believing Ia It's exist
ence. In the movements Of Mercury in
licsiions have been pcrccptible Of an In
iluenoe TINT could DO accounted Toe by the
HnppOsihon oi an interior planet
Among the wcll.knOwn scientists who
long aud carncsily contcndod for the cN.
isiencc OF the planet Vulcan, was the we'll.
remembered Prof. 1icc, oi this city, who
was ~ tho head OF the ~. Louis hubble
schools Tor many years, aud who claimed
TO have seen itand had located its position
and orbit In the heavens II would be
another instance OF poetic Justice II Il
should fall 10 81. Louis party 20 vindi.
cate PROT. Tees reputation rs an astron-
omor.
ECLirss oF THE suN.
Total cclipscs Of the sun occur with ex.
act regularity at intervals OF about eighteen
years, though they arc never total In cx-
acily the Same place twice. There are
always two cclipscs Oi the sun twice each |
year OF more or loss generally considcra- |
bly, less importance when the sun |
crosses the line" M the saying Is, during |
the spring and autumn cquinoXcs. But
whole year may pass without partial |
eclipse Of the moon, and several without a
total one, and no eclipse Is visible 10 every
part OF the earth. II the moons orbit |
about the earth were In the Same place ~
the carth's orbit about the sun, a lunar
eclipse would occur at every full moon,
and solar eclipse at every new moon, but
the two orbits intcSccting each other an
eclipse can take place only when tho moon
crosses one Of the two points Of the inter-
section, or nodes, ~ they arr called by ~
trOnOmers, or when Il IA near 10, ~ nj every
other full moon the moon passes above or
below the Carth'H shadow and at every
other full moon II " 70 high or low that iis
shadow passes above the North Pole or
below the South Polo. The moon must be-
full aud within IL II u mole for lunar
eclipse, and must DO ut new moon and
within l7o for solar eclipse. Tho season
Or poHod.ior q solar eclipse is about thirty.
Xix days eighteen before and eighteen
after the sun passes apparently the node
and that Of lunar eclipse about twenty
Two DAYS. or eleven aud onc.half each side
VI the node.
At least ono solar eclipse 0rcum every
time the sun passes the node, and some.
limos thcru are two, but at no crossing can
there bo moro than three cClipus, aud
Three arr possible only tgicc Ia succession,
ind when this happens the third meeting
and the one Immediately preceding tho
Iirt have only ono eclipse each. Tho |
moons node moves back along thc ocliptic
about 20 year, go that each season II
nrlipEcH comes about nineteen aud two.
third days earlier every year. A year
may, therefore, have three periods of
,clipes, aud ~ on the III OF January the
moon approaching the node Is ~ from q
'ull mOOn the year will have soycn cclipscs
II the sun and one total eclipse OF the
moon the inst time, as also the second
lime and partial cclipaUul the third time.
This cannot occur moro than once IN a
and year with only two oClipses
b equally raro After tho sun, moon aud
node have been once m line ~ coniunc.
Jon they return to about the Same posi-.
ion again IN .2a lunalions OF in eighteen
years and ten Or eleven days aud seven
ioum aud iOsty.iWO minutes, ac-
'oming 10 whether i've or six
cap years have interviewed, aud we
hen have about the same system Of
'clipsrs oyor apin--abOut the same, Tor
here u little difference m tO magnitude |
md time. and this little difference grows
~ ages io be- ~ great that every eclipse
finally drops out vi the list but 10 fvtnn
iuuln nllnr Tho llnu.n nl Il LlN hnnlnh or |