Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-08
OLD SOL WILL TAKE A DAY OFF IN
THE MONTH OF MAY, 1900.
Astronomers Are Making Great Prep.
a%rations for Observing the Phe-
nOmenon-Results of Great
Valne Expected.

members of this particular craft are look
ing forward to the date Of the. next total
eclipse as a probable turning point in the
history of their science. Astronomy, the
oldest and the most complete of the SCI
ences, has kept step within the past half
century with other branches of learning,
and has been greatly assisted by their
progress. The most interesting subject in
the investigation of the heavens. as well
as the most important one, by far. Is the
sun, and 1t is in connection with this great
sphere that the most extensive n the
most complete observations eyer taken
in the world will be made in the United
States, Mexico, Europe. and Africa dur
ing the coming eclipse.
The United States of America has, dur
foTTem ne p1 nations Of 18th the s globe in aiding
in the pursuit of astronomical knowledge.
From time to time as great eclipses ave
taken place throughout the world, enthu-
siastic bodies of American scientists have
Travelled, either at governmental or pri-
yate expense, to aid in making observa-
been liberal in making appropriations for
this purpose, and a large sum of money in
all has been spent up to this date by the
Naval observatory in viewing eclipses and
In publishing the results of these obser-
vations. 1t was therefore no matter OF
surprise when the observatory asked for
the coming total eclipse of the sun. A
biu to this effect has been introduced into
DOIn houses OIL congress, and Will I'M
doubtedly pass without objection.
Lore OF Total EcIipses.
All eclipses are either total, partial. or
%annular. The partial eclipse occurs when
the face of the sun is only partially OBJ
secured by that of the moon: the annular
eclipse is one in which a ring of light is
left shining around the moon. and Is In
e erp1h only ia: Of z a psr1Isl s sse seta, T 1bscu t9tai
of the face of the sun by the moon. The
two former kinds are not uncommon, but
~e entife obserya aFe OF Tit little total yalue ecI dor se Of
the sun, however, affords great opportun-
ity for observations, is of great value from
F. Is s of sha1f 5aaasIo0 and ana I'd unfortunately tn ely
currence. So unusual a thing is a total
eclipse of the sun that England. for ex-
ample. has not been visited by this phe-
of the world have been more fortunate,
but the great eclipses of the sun during
the following dates and localities tpas:eV viz u
Sweden, 1851: Spain and America, 1860;
United s tat 1853; 1S7s s.0 and 1850. and
however, were not total. and some Of
them occurred in almost inaccessible por-
tons Of their respective countries, and for
The total eclipse of 1900 will be one of
the most accessible and important ever
known to science. for It will occur in May,
will last from sunrise to sunset, and viii
be observable throughout almost its en-
tire course. The track Of totality of this
The black shadow will start at sunrise, in
the PACIFIC ocean, about 24O degrees east
by Is north, and viii, move east at a rate
exceeding a thousand miles per hour, I'M
northern half of the Nile valley, in
Africa, near the conjunction of the thirty
fifth parallel with the thirty-third degree
of longitude east.
The eclipse. will! start, as was stated
a ahSys' t In u ths .d PasifiG % Sssan; and nd V YIN
Gulf. 1t will envelop New Orleans at an
early hour in the morning. and will pass
In a northeasternly DIRECTION from that
and terminating. its course in the United
S5a5ef sb at s N91rfSia' o Va; Passing ASS on out
aliel north. It will reach this point about
and cross Spain, taking in on its way Ss the
city of Coimbra. 1t then crosses the Med
~iterranean into Northern Africa, passing
ends in the valley of the Nile at sunset.
observations at Norfolk.
The best and most complete observa-
lions that will be taken on the eclipse in
this country will be made at Norfolk, pro-
on the morning of the 18th, as the long
states wiIi occur there. At Norfolk the
7:3O a. M, and the moon will not have
completely crossed the face of the sun
until after 10 o'clock a. m. The duration
last one minute and twenty-seven sec
onds, or from S:47:21 to S:4S:iS. The long
est duration Of totally that will be reach
be about the middle of the Atlantic
ocean, and that will only. reach two min
ntes and eight and seyenth-tenths seconds,
NNhi1a the limo of tnfo1Sfv mill ha the an~n
paratively narrow strip indicated above a
partial eclipse Of the sun will on that day
extend some 5000 miles to the north of the
south to nearly the North pole on the
north, thus allowing the eclipse to be OBJ
face Of the globe. In the United States,
especially throughout the Eastern states,
even the partial eclipse will be observable
for a time almost totally invisible. al
though in New England its face will not
be more than half obscured.
however, be made along the line of total
ityi and toward the end of May there
will be a migration of astronomers from
In America there will hardly be 100 miles
Of its course that will not be watched by
a trained party Of observers: All Of the OBJ
the supervision of the United States naval
observatory. situated at Washington, and
in cooperation with that institution. Some
of the various Independent observatories
throughout North and South America; but
the vast majority of the astronomers will
come from these great institutions of learn
ing in this country that foster the study of
astronomy. and that have observatories Of
their own. Each of these colleges and uni
versities will be invited to assist in the
great. work, and IT, may be stated with
practical certainty that the Johns Hopkins
the Columbian university Of New York,
Brown university. Cornell. the University
Leland Stanford. the University of Cali.
fornia. Vanderbilt university, Georgetown
and the Columbian universities of Wash
most every college in the South, will either
equip a party at its own expense or send
out observers with the government par.
ties.
Value of observations.
One of the principal points of scientific
interest in connection with an eclipse is
the exact determination of the distance
from the earth to the sun, as this imag-
mary line which connects the centers OF
these two spheres forms the basis upon
nection with the heavenly bodies are made.
Moreover, when the suns intense radiance
is obscured BY the face Of the moon, Ger.
tain observations upon the stars and the
moon can be made that at other times are
impossible. New stars can be looked for
and some wonderful results have beer
Under this peculiarly advantageous con.
dition for observation the sun itself car
be seen in some regards to better advan.
known as the corona. This phenomenon
has been supposed by some to be a lumi,
nous atmosphere, surrounding the sun, ant
extending to a height of many hundred.
Of miles. 1t is invisible at ordinary times
but when viewed in times of total eclipse
it presents a Wonderfuiiy beandfui sight
narily painted around the heads OF saints