Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-04
PHOTOGRAPHED.
OBSERVING TIE ECLIPSE ON THE PA
HIFIC COAST.
Clear Weather Favored Work with Tele-
scope, Camera, and speetroscope-An
Intra-Mercurial Planet


score Of places along the line OF totally In
California and Nevada. The largest ana
most successful party IN the field was that OF
amateur photographers aud astronomers AZ
Cloyerdale, Sonoma county. The sky. winch
before noon was somewhat cloudy, was at
the critical moment perfectly clear, though
the atmosphere was slightly tremulous. Ihls
will not seriously interfere with the re-
suits obtained, although il will make mega
tiyes OF the corona which we're eX-
posed long rather cloudy. The first contact
occurred at 1923. At forty-six minutes ana
thirty.fve seconds past, the corona on tle
western limb flashed out. In from nVe 10
seven seconds after that the eclipse was total,
and the corona became visible on the eastern
limb. Totality lasted 104 seconds. in when
tiroe the Amateur Photographers Associa'
ton, under the direction OF Charles Buck
halter. OF the Chabot Observatory, took 1877
negatives OF the corona at different times ana
with different lengths Of exposure. They VIII
be turned over 10 the Lick Observatory and
the results published as soon as possible. IN
I'll after one half OF the face OF the sun was ob-
scured there was no perceptible difference IN
the amount OF light received from II. In iact
the difference in temperature was decldelly
more marked. 1t became uncomi0rtaDly
chilly. As the light from this time on gave
eyerythinga blush tint, which deepened lato
twilight lust before tOtalty, the erect was
weird. The two minutes OF totally passed
quickly, all the amateurs being engaged 10
skeiching the corona. Professor Keller de-
clared himself satisfied with the results, and
telegraphed to Professor Holden the news OF
success. The development OF the plates
nust be awaited TO ascertain the exact dis
coveries. Professor CAROLS work with the
[
Observatory Professor Holden took thirteen
photographs.
At Heaidsburg, where totality lasted eighty
seconds, the spectacle was magnificent.
Jupiter. Mars, and Mercury appeared Pro-
Iessor Hall, OF New York, took some line
photographs, the rays OF light extending
many degrees from the moon. These photo
graphs will be forwarded to Yale College.
Professor Pickering, OF the Harvard Unit
versity party, telegraphcd from willows that
the sun was perfectly clear during totalltY.
over fifty photographs were secured. The
partv consisted Of four observers from
Harvard and twenty-nine local assistants.
Fourteen telescopes and cameras were en-
ployed. and eight spectroscopes, besides mis-
cellapeous apparatus. The first contact was
lost through clouds. Eight negatives were
secured with athirteen.inch telescope. giving
images two inches in diameter before enlarge
meut: nine were taken with an eighl-inch
camera, one being cryihriesina through
stained ceatIne, TWENTY-FIVE negatives
we're taken TO measure the brightness OF the
corona and surroundings; five negatives 10
search for lutra-mercurial planets, and
twenty-five 10 study the spectrum OF the
corona TO determine its composition These
will reach from yellow rays 10 extreme ultra
violet. For the latter purpose speetroscope
was employed, with lenses and prisms COM
uosed exclusively OF quartz. Seven OBJ
seryations were made with phOtOmctrc
measure. The general illumination du-
ring totality was found lighter than
| in the ecliRses OF 1873 and 1856. The
! corona was similar 10 those Of 1868 and 1878,
hut showed much more detail than the latter.
| It vas an exceptionally tine corona, Extend
ing usually on one side to two solar diane
tiers, A striking characteristic was two
| iarked wings Of light polar rays well de-
| fined. The meteorological observations were
under the direction OF Wnslow Upton, OF
| Providence, K. l., and A. l.. Botch, OF Blue
| I'm Observatory. The Photography and
spectroscope were under the direction Of
! Professor ". H. Pickering, chief OF the Har-
yard University party, assisted by :. Bayley,
L. S. King, and Robert Black, OF Harvard.
A party Of observers from Carleton Col.
leqe, Mortified. Mimi, consisting OF Pro-
lessons Payne. Pearson, and Wilson, occu.
pied an open plot on the ranch OF General
| John Bidwell. The party used siX-lnch
| photograph telescope and other Photographic
! apparatus. aud tWO-luch zenith telescope.
| Professors Wilson and Pearson exposed
nine plates in the period OF totally and six
| between the first and last contact OBJ
seryaiion. Sketches OF the corona were
made by Professors Wilson aud Payne
and Surveyor Brown. The ky was
not perfectly clear. -Four long streamers
/ we're seen from promnences, and the chro-
mosphere was strong for full quadrant dis
! lance from the west side OF the sun. The
northern and southern limbs OF the sun
] showed a great number Of fine radiaiIng fila
ments.
! At Apaneim the eclipse was plinly yisi.
! bic. No photographs were taken, but 1t Il
! claimed that an intra-mercurial planet was
! seen al the time Il the suns greatest oO-
scuratlOn. Professor Davidson camped near
| there and made scientific observations.
At san jose observations we're taken by
the Normal School observing party. which
consisted OF Professors kleeberger, llolWaY,
| and Randall with fOur-inch rciracting telc-
scope and smoked glasses. Atths time OF the
greatest observation "Blily's beads" the
corona, and prominences 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 eve. Among the phenomena observed
was the effect Of TIE eclipse upOn the images
Of the sun formed where its light shOne
through apertures. A beam Of hight show
inc through a crack IN a shutter formed in
Vulnerable InteTlgced, cresceutshaped images
Of the sun.
The University OF the Pacific had fine
transit instrument and siX.inch TtfraGing
telescope In its Observatory. observations
were made by Professor Wilbur W. Tho
burn assisted by Professor a. IL. Briggs
| During the first quarter oi the eclipse the
! sky was Obscured By clouds, but from that
time on was comparatively clear. At the
moment OF greatest obScuritv the sun was
almost hidden except a thin crescent on the
| southern edge. The mountains OF the moon
were clearly seen outlined against the sun.
| The SHARPNESS OF the moons edge on the disc
| OF the sun was specially marked.
At the observatory OF Professor George
! Davidson in San Francisco, under the charge
OF Professor II. A. MARI. OF the United
| States Coast add GeOdetic Survey, the path
OF the eclipse was closely noticed. During
the early stages of the transit Complementary
colors were visible. The first coutac. was
marked at 1928, and the last at 5000. The
SUMS edge, owing to atmospheric conditions.
seemed to be throwing OF numerous columns
OF yapor.
At Winnemucca. New, the weather was
clear during the entire day, and obserya-
tons Of the eclipse were eOtirely successful.
! At the signal Office Professor Howe, OF Dem
yer. with five assistants made accurate OBJ
serYatiOns OF the times OF contact, the draw
| ings OF corona, and photographs by the coro-
pa light. Thomas Davidson, under instruc-
| tons from the Howard Observatory, dlscoY-
cred two comets near the sun. j. A. Brash-
ear, the opticiap, OF Allegheny, Penn, made
! drawing Of the telescope appearance OF the
corona near the south pole OF the sun. Mr..
/ Van Harrington, OF the signal Office, made q
! drawing OF the corona at the north pole Of
| the sun. Several assistants also took notes ot
/ contact and made drawings. A special
| series Of meteorological observations were
also made. No appreelable change in tenn
peratIlre was noted. Mr.. Marett made accu-
rate obseryailoss OF the shadow bands which
have not so far been satisfactorily explained.
The eorons was similar in general appear
ance TO that OF 1878.
A BURGLARS BATTLE FOR LIFE.