The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-20
OLD SOL TO BE YELLED.
A PARTIAL ECLIPSE FROM NOON
UNTIL O'CLOCK TO-DAY.

servance OF the Phenomenon-He
Points Out the Advantages of Solar
Eclipees and How the Information
Gained From Their Observation Is
Uttlizsd-5ome Of the Great Eclipses
ofthe Past and Predicted.
To-day between IL and 8 o'clock Ssvan-
nahisns may, IL the skies be clear. observe
what 10 by no means q common occurrence
among the heavenly bodies-an eclipse Of
the sun. While the eclipse will not be a
large one, or Of the highest scientific value,
still 1t will serve to call the attention of the
people, and especially of the young. to this
interesting class of natural phenomena.
At Savannah the eclipse will begin about
two minutes before 10 o'clock and will end
about niue minutes before 8 O'Clock. Only
about one-third OF the suns disk will be OBJ
scured upon the northern and eastern sides,
and hence but little dimlnution in it's brill
llancy will be noticed. A piece OF smoked
glass will be all the ordinary observer will
need, and this should be prepared before~
hand for convenience. The first contact
will occur 90 90 west Of the north point of
the sun.
THE FIRST PHASE.
A small dark notch will be at first no.
ticed, and this will gradually grow larger
and larger until about one-third Of
the suns surface 10 apparently eaten
away as by some huge monster. The eclipse
will not be total anywhere upon the earth,
but It will be visible as q partial eclipse
over almost the entire continent Of North
America and the northern portion of South
America. The central line will sweep far
to the north through Alaska and Green
land. An eclipse of the sun is caused by
the moon passing between us and the sun,
thereby cutting off all or q portion of his
light from the earth. There cannot be more
than five nor less than two solar eclipses in
year, and these are not often seen at the
same place.
Although total eclipses of the sun are not
infrequent in various parts of the earth,
yet their recurrence at any given place is
exceedingly rare. There has been only one
total eclipse visible at London in 752 years.
A TOTAL ECLIPSE IN 1900.
In this connection ii will be interesting to
know that May 2S. 1900, a grand total
eclipse will sweep directly through the
southern states from New Orleans to Nor
folk, and along track 100 miles wide. The
splendor OF the MONDAY sun will be sud
denly changed to an aweinspiring gloom to
be remembered for a lifetime. The planets
aud brighter stars will be seen near midday,
and all nature will assume for few min
utes most impressive appearance.
total eclipse Of the sun is not only a
rare and merely interesting phenomenon
TO behold, but 1t Is very important one TO
the practical astronomer. It would be en-
tirely beyond the scope Of brief sketch to
explain how astronomical science, and, in
deed, practical business life, Is benefited
by observations upon these ecipses. One
of the most important objects aimed at by
astronomers In observing solar eclipse is
an accurate determination Of the moons
mean longitude, or, what amounts to the
same thing, the exact average time 1t takes
the moon TO go round the earth.
TO GET ACCURATE TIME.
The moons motion is very irregular,
and it never completes two revolutions
around the earth in exactly the
same time. In order, then, to pre-
dict its position accurately for any
future time it is necessary to know its
average or mean motion and the disturbing
influences upon IL by the other members of
the solar system. A revolution Is completed
when the moon passes between the earth
and the sun, or at new moon. It is quite
evident that this average time of revolution
will be more nearly correct the more revo-
buttons are taken into consideration and the
more accurately the exact time of conjunc-
ton is observed. To this end an eclipse of
the sun Ia but an announcement that the
moon has completed one revolution and is
starting on a new one, that she has just
passed under the wire by the grand stand
upon her circular track
A total eclipse Of the sun 10 an ever -to-be
remembered event, and historians from
time TO time for the last 5000 years have
recorded the times of these phenomena,
when the tireless courser of the skies passed
under the wire again. Thus from thou
sands OF revolutions are obtained an average
which 10 within one second of the true time
This error must still be reduced and
are going on 60 observe the total eclipse in
South America next year, and the one al
ready mentioned for 1900.
AN AID TO COMMERCE.
To commerce an eclipse Is worth a good
deal The best, and sometimes the only
means the sailor has to determine his posi-
ton upon the sea is by observing the posi-
tions Of the heavenly bodies, especially the
moon. How important. then, for the safety
OF his cargo of freight and passengers that
these positions be accurately determined
beforehand by the astronomer. A small
error might hurl him upon dangerous rocks
or head him through perilous seas.
Nearly all the festivals and fasts of both
the Christian and Jewish churches depend
upon the position of the moon. So that
Easter and the Passover, Holy Thursday
1uu buo + 6hs6 vi Law hil nave an interest
10 these solar eclipses.
Eolipses were formerly regarded with
superstitious dread by those who did not
understand their causes.
COLUMBUS AND THE ECLIPSE.
Il will be remembered that Columbus
took the advantage of the prediction of q
solar eclipse upon a certain occasion to
brighten the Indians into a compliance with
his demands for food. He told them that
unless they furnished him with food he
would take away their sun, to them a di-
vine object. He knew the eclipse would
soon be on. The Indians stood firm till they
actually saw the sun gradually fading from
view then, in terror they complied with the
demands Of Columbus. who then graciously
permitted the sun TO resume his wonted
splendor.
The first record of an eclipse Of the sun ia
by the Chinese 2, 1913 years before Christ
and one OF their emperors put to. death the
chief astronomer, Hi and Ho, for failing to
announce the eclipse or 1850 B. C.
The next solar eclipse visible at Savannah
will occur Oct. 9, 1893, but it will be barely
visible here.
Bronchitis yields at once to the healing in
huenoes Of DR.. Bulls Cough syrup.-ad.
Would Not Be Without One.
l.