The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-01-16
THE SUMS ECLIPSE.
Successful Telescope Obserya-
tions on the Pacific Coast.
Much Scientific Data and Valuable
Photographs Obtained

The event Of New Years Day wblch Will
long I've remembered in California was the
total eclipse Of the sun, visible throughout d
belt ninety-three miles wide, extend
Ing diagonally across the northern
part of that State. Trained observers
from all parts Of the United
States, provided with all necessary III
struments, were stationed at various polnts
in the path of totality, and as the weaSnef
was favorable at most places, their ooserVa-
tions were made under exceptionally la'ora.
BILE circumstances. and will prove OF srea'
scientific value
The principal work was done 6y tne 9arE ar
ward University party at the @ nlsa,n Pro t,roA
Observatory. astronomers at Norman; rro.
fessor Swift near Chico, the Shanot
Observatory, and people at Clover
dale The latter party was IN chargee
of Professor Charles Buckhalter. ana
included no less than twenty-five expert
enced amateur photographers. Besides cam
eras and smaller instruments. observers were
equipped with 10 half-inch re1ectors of
Cnabot University and a sderial clock SET 10
automatically record the time.
The observers we're placed in large vacanG
lot covered with the greenest OF grass, ana
containing several giant white OAKS %l1u
long streamerS Of gray moss chngng 10 .neir
leahess branches. These features OF the lanu.
scape were brought out with we!rd enect
during the solar obscuratlon
At l2:23 p NJ. the first contact was noted.
The sky was clear, with the exception or
few laceliEe cirrus Clouds which. now
ever, did not. except at rare Intervals,
cross the face of the sun. Slowly
the moon crept onward, until tne
of new moons. Then the face OF nature as
sumed ghastly aspect. Faces became OF
sickly, creensh yellow hue, though this ef-
feet may have been partly due to the renee
tion of the dim light from the emerald lawn.
Six minutes before the tctality Venus
came into view. A moment later, Juplter
could be seen near the zenith. AT TINS mo
ment, while all eyes were strained 10 catch
the first glimpse of the corona. the silence oe.
came so perfect that the ticking OF tne
sidereal clock was plainly heard Inc
air grew chill, and then all at once
SO quickly that none could note how this
change was made, there hung poised in the
sky the great black body of the moon. sur.
rounded by ring of gltterlpg ournlsne9
irregular bands, like remnants OF golden ana
rose tinted satin ribbons with raveled ends.
This was the marvellous corona. Mercury
and Mars now came out to join the TWO
larger planets previously noted. One shout
of "Oh!" went up. then all was still again
save for the ticking Of the clock and
the voice. of the timer calling on 81
photographers 1t was not dark: it was
rather twilight-the uncanny twilight OF
another world. Objects could plainly be dis
cerned and the motionless. noss-covere1
arms Of the old oaks were not the least ave-
inspiring feature OF the Landscape.
One hundred and four SECONDS were tolu
off, and then. on the lower circumference
of the black ball hanging. in the
heavens appeared tiny sreck of fire.
bright as molten steel, which soon ex-
banded into a crescent. In another
second the wonderful spectacle was ended.
The total phase had passed. Three cheers
were given with tiger for the eclipse OF the
sun and moon.
The corona was observed through the in
struments seven seconds before totality,
which began at 1:46:45 p NJ. A large num-
Der of excellent photographs were obtained,
which will be turned over to the Lick Ob-
servatory.
Observers at other points report very fa-
vorable results. 1t is expected that the
eclipse will aid in solving many long dis
puted astronomical problems.
Professor Louis Smith was stationed at
Nelson, California, and telegraphed the fol-
lowing as the result of his observations OF
the eclipse: LAS far as afording oppor-
tunity 10 search for intra-mercurial
planets it was failure from clouds and
haze. All four contacts were well made,
the chronometer watch previously set to
Lick Observatory time being used. Five
very small colorless protuberances were seen,
all having pointed apexes. Near the point
of one was another d tached from
the sun. Baileys beads were seen
at the second and third con-
facts. but entirely unlike those seen at Den
yer in 1878. No chronosphere was visible,
though looked for. Mercury, Venus, Vega
ard Alpha Cvgni were seen. TIE corona
cold not he drawn, but as seen through the
telescopes it was not very extensive"