Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-01-03
Reports of Expert Astronomers Who
Witnessed the Great Eclipse.

WILLOWS, January 2d.-The SIN was perfe-,ti,
clear during the period of totality of the eel ,s
yesterday. over fry photographs were secured.
The party consisted of four observers from Ha.5
ward and twenty-1ine local assistants. Four
teen telescopes ard cameras were employed
ana eight spectroscopeS, besides miscellaneous
apparatus.
The first contact Eas lost through clouds.
The other three were observed The duration
OF totality was lis seconds. Eight photographs
were secured with thirteen-ineh telescope.
giving images Two inGAes in diameter before
enlargement. Nine wese taken with the eight
inch camera, one being one Erythros plate
through stained gelatine~
twenty-five negatives were taken In measure
Che brightness osthe corona aud surroundings.
I'VE negatives 70 search for intramercuriai
planets and twenty TO study the spectrum of the
w.ll reach from the yellow rays to the extreme
ultra violet. For he latter purpose the spec
troscope was employed with lenses and prisms
composed exclusively ofquaEZ
Seven observations were masfe with the phc-
toneter TO measure the general illumination
during totality. 1t was found lighter than dur
ing she eelipses OF 1878 and ysS6. The corona
was similar to those Of lS6s and 1875 but showed
much more detail than the latter Ii was an
exceptionally fine corona, extending usually on
one SIDE to two SOAR diameteTS. Its striking
characteristic was two forked wings of light
The polar rays were web defined aud consider
ably shorter.
ACROSS THE SIERRA NEVADA
WINNEMUccA (Nev. J. January 2d.-The weather
was perfectly clear curing the entire day yes
terday, and the observations of the eclipse were
entirely successful. Several parties were sta
toned at different points near the town, and
one az the Signal Office in town.
Professor Howe, of Denver, with five assist
ants, made accurate observations of the times
of the contacts, drawings, of the corona and
photographs by the corolal light.
Alr. Davidson under instructions from the
Harvard Observatory, made several photographs
of the corona.
Professor Elkin, of the Yale Observatory, dis
covered two comets near the sun.
Mr.. BTaShear, of Pennsylvania made a draw
ing OF the telescope appearance of the corona
near the south pole of the SUI.
Mr.. tBlinn, of East Oakland observed the time
of contacts.
Mr.. .Vanhartingen, of the Signal Office, OBJ
served the time of the contacts and made draw
lngs OF the corona at the north pole of the sun
and several assistants made drawings and pho
tographss
special series of meteorological observations
were also made.
No appreciable change of temperature was
noted, and no fog or clouds formed during the
period of totality. The Photographic negatives
have not been developed and results are not
known.
Mr.. Marett made an accurate observation of
the shadow bands which, so far, have never
been satisfactorily explained
The corona was similar in general appearance
to that Of 1875 The streamers extended from
three to fORr diameters and the red protuber-
ances were strongly marked.
More favorable conditions were not possible