The morning call., 1893-04-19
SAW THE SHADOW
Success of the Eclipse OBJ
serVations.
1T WAS A FINE CLEAR DAY.
All of the Astronomers Who Went to
South America Have Secured Inn
portant Results.
Special to THE MoRNISG CALL.

VALPARAISO, April 1S.-Professor Pick
ering has warked out some eclipse observa-
tiOns taken on Sunday al Nina Arls. lie
reports that the day broke absolutely per-
feet, without the faintest cloud during the
period of the eclipse. The first contact,
when the edge of the moon began TO touch
the edge of the sun, occurred al hours II
min. 6 sec. A. NJ.
The second contact, when the eclipse be-
came total, was at Sh. 19nl. 9s. The third
contact, marking the cessation OF the total
phrase. was registered Mt Sh. 21m. 59s and
the final contact at which the moon left the
SUMS disc, was at Oh. 30m. los. All these
periods are in local time
Forty minutes after the first contact, at
about three minutes to o'clock A. NJ, the
light of the sun was observed changing to a
sickly yellow hue, and there was q per-
ceptlbe though faint chill in the
air. Twenty minutes later the corona
revealed the round moon before the
obScuratlon had become total During the
period of totality there were in the east and
west dark tints. like rain clouds, lowering
on the horizon. The colors were yellow
and faint orange. in general the light re-
sembling that Of a faint twilight. but gen.
orally it was less DARK than at past eclipses.
Professor AlbPecht took observations at
point 800 feet higher than Professor Picker
Ing, but his data were scant, having been
obtained only through a telescope.
The temperature fell three degrees during
totality. Il was specially bic. the OBJ
server considers that the condensed shadow
bands or 'fringes" were similar to hot-air
waves over an oven or ripples on pond,
having the velocity of fast walk.
NOnp Of tham tap t,E,o i'm NV
in breadth, and they were from one to
three feet apart. They were seen before
and after totality, but before totality they
were faint. The directions of the move
ments were variable.
Professor Pickering says that the results
of the photographs obtained with the differ
ential sDectroscoI e give twenty lines in the
reversing LAYER" of the solar atmosphere
Twelve of these brillIant-colored spectral
Ines were seen through the telescope
This Is the flrst time that these lines have
been successfully photographed. Professor
Pickering also says that the entire series of
spectroscoDic and corona photographs
taken on Sunday are very satisfactory and
promise to yield important data.
ThirtY-fOur seconds before the eclipse
became total two rays Of light were seen
issuing from the cusps' terminal points cor
responding to the horns of the new moon
and the cusps were observed in violent
motion Before tutalty the corona showed
eonical structure with net work OF FIVE.
fi'anents visible to the naked eye.
There were four light streameIs from the
corona and the two upper were shorter than
the lower ones. Seven promnences were
observed. Douglas estimates that they
attained a height of 900 miles.
The integrating spectroscope showed red
and yellow lines, two green lines and one
blue line in the corona. The promiuences
were fine and were well photographed, and
the corona was unusually brilliant with
much detail.
The expedition is satisfied with the photo
metric results. The observers will sail
from here on April 90.