The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1897-09-23
PROFESSOR W. W. CAMPBELL.

PROFESSOR w. w. CAMPBELL.
will establish base of supplies while he
is locating the exact spot from which to
make his observation. Karad, town of
about IA, coo inhabitants, mostly Hindoos
and Mohammedans, will probably be
chosen.
About month will be left for making
oil preparations. The great 40 foot tele-
scope, the same which was used In the un-
fortunate Japan expedition, will be set up
on as high an eminence as possible. Two
or three smaller tubes will also be mount
ed, and at least five spectroscopes, with
which photographs of different parts of the
corona will be taken. Professor Campbell
will be accompanied by Mrs. Campbell and
a young lady friend. None Of the rest of
the party will be scientific persons, as it is
expected that enough assistants can be Sc
cured among the English army officers
quartered in India, whose aid has been
courteously promised
There is every prospect that this obser-
walton will not be failure, as was the one
which was prevented in Japan about
year ago by clouds. December in India Is
one of the finest months in the year, and
it is estimated that there is not more than
one chance in 20 of the weather being unfa.
vorable. Still, single cloud which might
mischievously sail across the sky in Just
the right position to cover the eclipsed sun
might defeat the purpose of the whole ex-
petition.
The chief objects Professor Campbell,
will have in view in making the observa-
tion will be to examine the corona and to
study the solar protuberances. The corona
is simply tho gaseous surrounding of the
sun. 1t has the appearance of beautiful
halo Of blush white about the moon dur
ing the period of eclipse In brilliant con-
trast to 1t are the fiery red arms or promi-
nences which are thrown out from the sun
in long, fantastic streamers and which
project for thousands of miles into space.
Professor Campbell will endeavor to de-
termine how much of the corona Ia gas
eous and how much solid matter, suppos.
ably thrown out by the terrific solar forces.
He will also try to get some idea of the
movements Of the suns blazing tentacles
and their nature.
He will rely largely on photography to
help him accomplish these ends and will
take many pictures during the brief time
afforded. He will carry with him over 100
pounds of Photographic plates, and the
negatives which he obtains will not only
be developed before he leaves India, but
duplicates will be made of the more i'm
portant and valuable ones. These will be
carefully packed and shipped in different
vessels.
Professor Campbell will have about q
dozen assistants, and before the day of the
eclipse he will have them we'll trained, so
that at the critical moment each may do
his part well. After the eclipse the as
Economical paraphernalia must be careful
ly repacked and shipped back to San Fran
cisco. This work will occupy several
weeks, and when 1t is concluded Professor
Campbell and party will take a private
tour through northern India, returning by
way of Egypt, Italy, France and England
| and visiting all the principal observatories
In these countries.
1t Is expected that the results Of this ex-
pedition will be of the highest scientific
Importance, and doubtless II 1t is q success
many facts Of popular interest will be dis
covered. 1t has been years since a total
eclipse has been observed by a we'll equip
ped party of scientists, and during those
years there has been such an advance In
the science Of photography, especially as
applied to astronomy, that the answers to
many problems hitherto unsolyed may be
read like an open book. So important is
this eclipse considered In astronomical cir
cles that three expeditions will leave Eng
| land and one from France.
HOWARD SPENCE SINCLAIR.