The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-03
THE ECLIPSE OF THE sun.
HOW THE ASTRONOMERS VIEW IT,
THE PACIFIC COAST.
The Sun Very Distinct During the PERIOD
OF Totally, and Fifty Good Photo
graphs Are Taken-All the Details Of
Observation.


Pickering, Of the Harvard University party,
telegraphs from Willows regarding yester-
days eclipse, that the sun was perfectly
clear during totality. Over fifty photo
graphs were secured.
The party consisted Of four observers
from Harvard and twenty-nine local as
sistants. Fourteen telescopesa and cameras
were employed and eight spectroscopes,
beside miscellaneous apparatus. The first
contact was lost through clouds. The
other three were observed at duration Of
lis seconds. Eight were secured with
thirteen inch telescope, giving images two
inches in circumference before enlarge
ment; nine were taken with an eight inch
camera, one being clythriesins plate through
stained gelatine. Twenty-Five negatives
were taken to measure the brightness Of
the corona and the surroundings; five
negatives TO search for inner mercural
planets; twenty TO study the spectrum OF
tho corona 10 determine its composition.
These will reach from yellow rays to ex-
IRENE ultra violet. For the latter purpose
speclroscope was employed with lenses
and prisms composed exclusively OF quartz
Seven observations were made with pho
tometro measure. General illumination
during totality was found lighter than the
eclpses OF 1873 and 1886. The corona wassfl
similar TO those OF 1868 and 1878, but
showed much more detail than the latter.
II was an exceptionally fine corona, ex-
tending usually on one side to two collar
diameters. striking characteristic was
two forked wings Of light polar rays, well
defined, and considerably shorter.
The meteorological observations were
under the direction OF Winslow Upton, OF
Providence, X. l., and A. l.. Botch, Of
Blue Hill Observatory. The photographs
and spectroscope were under the direction
Of Prof. W. II. Pickering, Chief of the
Harvard College party, assisted by $. Bay
ley, f. 5. King and Robert Black, Of Har-
ward.
At Cloverdale the eclipse was observed
with great accuracy by the Pacific Coast
Amateur Athletic Association. The weather
was favorable-no apparent wind and a
cloudless sky, excepting q few floating
cyrrhus clouds. The eclipse was first no.
ticeable at l233; the toiality occurred at
l:iG:43; lasted minute A seconds time,
Pacific standard. Shortly before totalty
the cirrhus clouds were al tinged with tho
most brilliant, colons OF the rainbow. We
nus appeared early in the eclipse, and
Mercury and other planets were plainly in
view. The arrangements Of the club were
complete, and every phase of the eclipse
was photographed by some OF the party.
A party OF observers from Carlton Coll
lege, Mortified, Mimi, consisting Of Pioi4
Payne, Robinson aud Wilson, were located
on an open plot ON the famous rancho Of
Q Igk Itrfl Ill
inch photograph telescopes and other pho
tographic apparatus and twoinch zenith
telescope. Prois Wilson aud Robinson
exposed nine plates during the period Of
toiality and six between the first and last
contact observation. Sketches OF the
corona were made by ProiS Wilson and
Payne and Surveyor Brown. The sky was
not perfectly clear. -Four long siresmers
were seen from prominences and chron-
sphere was strong for full quadran, dis-L
lance OF lhe west side oil the sun. TheS
northern aud southern limbs OF the sun
showed great number Of fine radiating
/ tilamcnts.
At Anahcim the eclipse was plainly visi-
! bic. No photographs were taken, but II is
claimed an intcrmurcural planet was seen
during the period OF the suns greatest OBJ
scuration Prof. Davidson campcd near
( there aud made scientific observations.
| At San jose observations were taken by
| the Normal School observing party. which
/ consisted Of Profs Klceborgcr, Holway and
| Randall, with n four-inch refractory tele-
scope and smoked glasses. At the time OF
/ the greatest observation, "Bailey's beads"
J the corona and prominenccs were carefully
| looked for, but were rendered invisible by
/ floating clouds and the unobscured portion
/ OF the sun. Venus was plainly seen with
the naked eye. Among the incidents OF
the phenomena observed was the effect Of
| the eclipse upon tho images OF the sun
formed where lis light shone through aper.
lures A beam Of light showing through
crack in shutter formed innumerable in.
terlaced and overlapping cresceni-shapcd
images OF the sun.
The University Of tho Pacific has fine
transit nsti ument and n six.inch refrac-
tory telescope In It's observatory. Obscr-
vations were made by Prof. Wilbur W.
! Thoburn, assisted by PROF. A. II. Briggs.
During the first quarter OF the eclipse tho
sky was obscured by clouds. but from that
time on II was comparatively clear At
tho moment OF greatest obscurity the sun
was almost hidden except very thin
crescent Of the southern edge. Tie
] hNuuNluh " tht inuou were clearly seen
+ outlined against tho sun. The sharpness
Of the moons edge on tho dice Of the sun
was especially marked. During the last
/ half Of the eclipse tho ohscurity seemed 10
! be that OF twilight. Thruo OF the planets
wcre visible Venus aud Man In con-
/ junction were easily distinguished with
| the naked eye.
/ Al that ia known OF the observations nj
! Lick Observatory Is contained in the fol-
lowing message from Prof Holden
Tho eclipse was successfully observed
and photographs were taken here. Tho
expedition ct Bartlett Springs was perfectly
successful.
AT Leigan, scycni, miles north u Reno,
/ Surveyor General irish, OF Nevada. and
! his pariymanagcd, Ia spite of cloudy skies.
TO noio tile time oi the first aud second
contacts. Thoy secured ten Photographic
views during the ioiality. which was but
one minute and forIy.iouf seconds 10 dura.
ton.
At the observatory Of Prof George Da.
wilson, in san Francisco, under the charge
Of Prof. H. A. Mar, Of the United States
coast aud gcodoiic survey. the path Of tho
eclipse was closely noticed. During tho
early stage of the transit Complementary
, colos were visible. The first contact wa
marked 1T 23ond the last nj 500 o'clock.
The suns edlc, owing b. atmospheric con-
ditions, seemed TO bo throwing Oh numcr.
Gus columns OF vapor.
=s-=a-a-a -
River fcicgrams
EVANSVILLE. iih, Jan g--llvcf n net