New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-01-01

THE YEAR BEGINS WITH An ECLIPSE.
WHERE THE. sun WILL BE oBsCURED TODAY
ARRANGEMENTS FOR MAKING OBJ
GFRVATIOys.

Tb- first ecllpse OF the rev year will be that Of
the snn today II will be a total eclipse west Of
the Mississippi and II the sun were TO set five min
Later In NcYork than II does, the eclipse woun
be partially visible with fair weather here The sun
sets in New-York to-day at 3s. and the moon does
not begin to move over the suns disc until AL
three minutes later Careful preparations have been
made by astronomers all this country and In
Europe TO secure good observations OF the ccnpse'
Arrangements have been perfected all along the line
at points where It be seen and II the "eatner ls
favorable many excellent views will be oDtaihed
Scientific Interest principally directed tn the corona
and the peculiar character OF the prouAerancPs which
csn be extending from the snn when the bfVau
light has temporarily shut Of by the moon.
The path of the total eclipse which curves north
ward, varies in width from sixty six miles In Mon
tana to cighty-two miles in Idaho. ninety miles In
Nevada and ninety-si1 miles In California Among
those places at which IL Will be best seen arc Mani
toba the Yellow Park, Fort Buford In Dakota
Newton and Rcdlodge, in Montana; Good Hope ana
the north end of Pyramid Lake. in Nevada; Nelson
Point Manchester and Point Arena. In California.
The duration OF the total eclipse will be from Twelve
seconds In Montana TO little less than two minutes
In California
Parties nom the Lick Observatory in California
have been stationed at a number Of advantageous
places. Professor John X. Rees. Of the Cdunna
College observatory says that careful and minute
Instructions have been sent out BY rrof'sso" DAVID
Todd, of the Amherst Observatory to persons living
observed. The next eclipse Of the sun Will De on
December %, 1889. and will be visible In western
Africa and French Guiana.
HOW OBSERVING PARTIES ARE DISTRIBUTED
san Francisco, Dec 31.-Northery winds began 10
blow Yesterday and the prospects are that tomoTo"
will be clear day and that an excellent opportunity
will be afforded to observe the total eclipse OF inc
sum- Several parties have been In Northern Call
fornia for week places favorable for the observa-
ton and IL is expected that large number Of per
sons Will go to the region Of totally tomorrow; n
large party organized by the Amateur fh9to, no
graphic Association and will go TO Cloverlale, igo
miles north OF this city, in charge OF Professor u -,
Burckhatten, of Chabot University. Oakland Al aae
Lick Observatory. observations VIII De maui
by Professor Holden and ches. party an, rom
the Lick Observatory will also be stationed az BART
lett Springs In the path of totality, and VIII De pp
vldcd with the necessary Instruments Tor takhe Oh
servatons Parties from Harvard University, ana
Washington University, st. Louis, Will be at WILLOWS.
Professor Pickering and Messrs Rotch, BAILEY hlng nn
and Black will represent Harvard Washington I'M
versity Will be represented by Professors PIftchett,
Niphen and Enge. Professor William Payne, OF
Northfeh Mimi. will be stationed at Chico a corps
of observers from Amherst. I'm charge OF Professor
David p Todd. are stationed at Winncmucca, New.
SurveyorG General IRISH of Nevada, Will be at Legan
Station, Nevada Among other scientists VINO VIII
make observations Professor Soulc, OF the Uni
vorsity of California: Professor J. 7. John and Dr
W v Brown of Depauw University, of Indiana, and
Professor Lewis Swift, Of Rochester.