The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-16

Mex. Saturday will occur the total
eclipse OF the sun. one Of the most i'm
pOrtant astronomical events thdt mas
taken place in centuries. Unfortunate
~ II will not be visible in the western
hemisphere. and therefore the scientists
who Will observe IL are already IN IN
dia. this being the point on the earth
surface from which Il may best be seen.
Among these scientists Is SIR Norman
Lockyer. f. r. $. x. g r., who - htted
by both experience and knowledge 10 oe
considered the Dean Of the Astr0nonic
Faculty, as II were. the man whose views
regarding the eclipse Will nave greater
weight than those expressed by any otn-
er OF the scientific world.
In consequence. the following, prepared
especially by him just before he sailed
for India, VIII be read with exceeding IN
terest by the laymdn as well as the scien-
list. II Is intended especially for the
American people. and this Is its irst puD-
LEGATION.
So far back as 1871 led an expedition
10 india 10 make a systematic attack on
the Solar corona during the two minutes
Of its visibility on December lzth OF thdt
year.
Having observed. or directed observa-
lions of. nearly every succeeding total
eclipse Of the sun Of any consequence.
| am again about to take the Held with
Instruments which are the most import
ant have ever brought 10 bear on an
eclipse.
The scene OF operations will again he
India and il is confidently anticipated
that results Of the greatest value 10
science will be obtained when the sun Is
totally eclipsed for two minutes and nve
seconds on the 22d Of January next Mr..
\. Fowler and DR.. w. j. :. IockYer are
my companions, and our observations
Will be taken at Viziadurg htte SCUM
Of Ratnaghiri on the west coast or lndld.
The instrumental equipment VIII no
similar TO that which the same party took
out To Norway for fhc eclipse or August,
1895, with the important difference mat
one Cf the large slitess spectroscopes has
been provided with an additional prism,
and the remarkable programme OF oosCr-
walton which became possible by tne
splendid assistance rendered by the ON
GERS and men of H. VI. ;. Voltage Will be
augmented.
Special attention will be given to spec
troscOpic observations. with the view on
obtaining moro information as TO the
chemical constitution of the various solar
appe ndages which become visible during
a total eclipse and particularly as 10 the
localiZation OF different vaporS IN the
suns atmosphere For this part OF ;he
work three large spectrOscopes Will ne
employed Two Of these are OF the form
known as prismatic cameras or slltiess
spectroscopes. one having an aperture or
nine inches and prism of forty-nye de-
grees, and the other six inches with TWO
prisms Of the same refracung angie.
Even with a single prism on the latter
instrument some splendid and novel pnO-
tographs were obtained by Mr.. Fowler
I'm Africa during the eclipse or 1893 ana
now that the dispersive power is dou-
bled. IL is expected that the value OF the
photographs will be at least doubled also
Profting by the experience OF the lass
two eclipse expeditions in which | have
been interested. these large instruments
will be firmly fixed and the light Of the
corona will be reflected into them from
two heliostat mirrors, driven by CLOCKS
so az TO compensate for the sun appar-
ent move nent across the heavens. The
plate holders are OF a special construc-
ton. which will admit Of the rapid chang
ing necessary In order that as few as
possible OF the precious moments OF TO-
talty may be lost.
Another large Photographic spectre
scope has two prisms Of sixty degrees
and. unlike the prismauc cameras. IS pro-
yided with a slit and collimaung lens.