The times., 1899-12-25
THE SOLAR PHENOMENON
The Naval 0bseryatOry's Prepara-
tions for the SUMS Eclipse.
The Astronomical Event Next May
Throughout the Civilized World
The Government Asked TO Ap-
proprintc 5000 Through Congress

Congress, as has already been an
nounced, will probably appropriate $4,000
that the Naval Observatory may observe
the eclipse of the sun on May IS. The item
was incorporated in the deficiency esti-
mates submitted by the Secretary Of the
Treasury and there is little doubt that it
will appear in the Deficiency Appropriation
bill which will be presented to Congress
within few days after the holiday re
cess
This solar eclipse will be the astrono-
mical event of 1900, and VIII be visible
throughout the Southern States. The cen
tral pathway OF darkness, wherein the
eclipse will be total, is ffty-fve miles wide.
and extends from New Orleans to Raleigh,
and after leaving Virginia trails over the
Atlantic ocean and southeasterly across
Portugal. Spain, and northern Africa.
The duration Of total eclipse varies from
one minute and fifteen seconds in Louis
lana TO one minute and forty-five seconds
in North Carolina.
Astronomers are making arrangements to
observe this glorious spectacle, and il is TO
hoped that their Efforts may be crowned
with success
A total eclipse of the sun takes p ace
when the moon, coming between the sun
and the earth, hides the light OF the sun
and causes darkness for few moments
wherever the shadow trails. The moCn
/ being an Opaque body, casts a shadow, and
since the moon is a sphere, the sha9ow
presents the appearance Of a long. narrow
cone, stretching away into space The tip
of the shadow trails eastwarGly a ong The
earth, and as the earth is moving in t te
same direction, the tip of the shaGow ay
be compared 10 the point of a lead Ee1cil
making line on a wnirling ball represent
/ ing the earth.
The densest part OF the shadow. wherein
/ the eclipse is total, is called the Umbra
and rarely exceeds 16@ miles in width
/ while On each side OF IL is a less dense
] shadow, from which the sun light is only
partly hidden. and this is called the pen
! umbra. The shadow glides through space
J at a rate exceeding 1000 miles an hour
| and as the earth is turning or rotating in
| the same direction at the rate OF 1000
! miles an hour, the greatest velocity Of
! the moons shadow viii be 1000 miles an
! hour. To an observer the shadow seems
/ to advance with lightning rapidity and
| some times it seems to travel in wayy
bands, the waves being few inches broad
and several feet apart rushing along with
/ the velocity of an express train.
While awe-inspring, yet a total eclipse
J Of the sun is most impressive with the
swift on-rush of darkness from the vest,
/ the Pickering quiveT Of the last expiring
| CLEANS Of sunlight and the sudden fall of
1 night when the silyery radiance of the
/ corona or crown Of glory surrounding
! the sun becomes visible. the dazzling glare
| OF that luminary being hidden by the dark
| globe Of the moon.
AS the moon approaches the point when
! 1t will be exactly between the sun and the
| earth a peculiar darkness cTeeps ever the
part of the earth in the neighborhood OF
/ the shadow, and the light Of the sun grows
! dim The sky assumes an ashen hue as
! before a storm. and the air becomes de-
cidedly chilly Flowers close their petals
as at night, and others that give forth
/ their fragrance at night are sweetly per-
! ceptible as long as the sun is obscured
! Even the birds are deceived by the unusual
/ appearance OF the sky and fly home to
! their nests in the trees.
Eclipses. as a rule, cause fear in the
animal kingdom. 1t has been said that a
! party OF travellers while awaiting a view
/ Of the total eclipse of the sun from the
deck OF the steamship Ohio, on the morning
Of August g. 1896, heard the shrill cries
! OF Lie sea guns, WHICH udu Dten CiTCllES
around the ship, as they few away af-
/ frighted by the approaching darkness.
On that occasion the Ohio occupied a
position off the western coast of Norway
near the Kunnen promontory. and twenty
miles south Of the Lofoden Islands. The
! sombre darkness slowly closed around like
a funeral pail
The sun was entirely hidden by the
neon which, hung like a dark globe in
mid-air while ali around it glcwed the
| glorious. indescribabIe corona No painter
ever welded brush who could reproduce
that matchless. silvery light. Scarlet
! flames glowed like rubies against the daz-
! zling white OF the inner corona while be-
yond streamed the silvery rays OF the outer
corona family outlined against a sky OF
| coppery hue. Just before totality was over
a vivid red glsam cutli1ed the western edge
I OF the moon and the next moment the sun
4 burst forth in blaze of glory and the
( corona vanished. occupying only 1 minute
| and 80 seconds OF time
/ Whatever the corona may be, IL IS a
| fitting crown of glory for the sun, which
sways the planets By its attraction, warns
them by its fires illuminates them by the
! splendor of its rays, and pOurs on our
planet earth all the electric and chemic in
! luences which are as necessary as light
and heat for the welfare OF its inhabitants.