Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-05-23
THE COMING ECLIPSE.

Great preparations have been made.
or are now under way. for the obser-
walton OF the total eclipse that is
scheduled for the 2sth Of this month.
There are several problems scientists
hope 10 solve. during the brief time
the veil Is drawn over the face Of the
sun. and II Is hoped that success VIII
attend the observations along the path
OF the eclipse.
The sun, II has been ascertained dur
ing former eclpses is surrounded by
what is supposed TO be solar atmos-
phere. red In color and consisting
chiefly OF hydrogen. The lower strata
OF this "air' are supposed TO be the
substances existing on earth but In
gaseous form, the heat being so In
tense that metals and minerals melt
and evaporate Ike water over fire.
This solar air or chromosphere. as Ii
Is called IS always in motion. II pre-
sents the appearance Of stormy sea,
on which the waves rise and fall. some
times these waves are thrown out into
SPACE thousands of miles from the sur
face Of the sun, as II breaking against
some hidden rocks in this solar ocean.
Then there Is another phenomenon
known as the corona. This consists OF
a soft light. like a gloria around the
head OF a Saint
These phenomena the astronomers
desire TO observe as carefully as pos
sibe hoping to obtain a better under
standing OF them, and some key to their
real meaning During every eclipse
some new facts seem TO be learned.
The observations need not be con-
fined TO those who have made
speciality Of astronomy. Anybody
within the path Of the eclipse can, II the
sky Is clear witness the phenomenon.
Mr.. Simon Newcomb, in the New York
Post says on this point;
AN observer who wishes TO see the
phenomenon 10 the best possible ud-
vantage should use a comparatively
small telescope OF low power a COM
mon spy-glass. or even an opera-glass
win suffice With such an instrument
he can take In the whole eflulgence
surrounding the densely black body Of
the moon OF single view The rosy
prominences viii he perhaps the most
Interesting detail that can be observed.
They are not always entirely red. The
forms are Of the most fantastic ana
varied character As the writer saw
one OF them during the eclipse OF 1909
10 might almost be- described as looking
like a huge pile OF snow peaks, glaciers,
and clouds shining In the full light OF
the sun. and varying in tint from q
light rosy hue 10 the brilliant white OF
a distant snow-peak.'
lie also tells some interesting auec-
dotes Of the effect Of total eclipses upon
animals. He says:
"A curious experiment was made up
ON a dog In France on the occasion OF
the eclipse Of 1912. The owner allowed
him no food after the preceding even
ing. Next day, at the moment when
the eclipse was about 90 become total,
he threw him a lump Of bread. The
dog had Just commenced % eat u
when the last rays Of the sun disap-
peared. lie then dropped it and did not
take il up again until after the total
phase was over when he began to eat
il with avidity, That the bats came
ont during the same eclipse does not
surprise us. During the eclipse OF 1851
one OF the observers noticed a crow
flying near him Ii seemed quite be-
wildered croaking and flying back
wards and forwards near the ground in
an uncertaiH manner. Another OBJ
server noticed that a calf which was
feeding near him began TO low most
piteously at the disappearance Of the
sun. and continued 90 do so until the
sun reappeared. when 1t quietly re-
turned % It's grazing That pigeons
and fowls should go 20 roost under the
same circumstances IS too natural %
excite special interest