The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-18

true dawn, and sometimes showing IN tue
| eastern and western skies al the same
time with a briniancy equal to that OF the
| Milky Way In all this time, although
| eminent astronomers have sought for an
| adequate explanation OF the phenomenon,
! science Is yet baffled in the quest. KEEP
| Ter wrote about this mysterious light about
| 1900, Descartes in 1880 and Childrey in 1852
but 1t was not until 1853 that II was
named. Then Dominic Cassini, observing
the light particularly on the night OF
March IS saw that it reached up along
the line in the sky marked by the con-
stellations through which the sun holds
It's yearly caurse and named It the 20
diacal light, and so Il has been known
ever since The similar light which is
seen at times opposite the suns positions
was styled the Gegenschein and SO 1t IS
known now.
The rarity with which the light is seen
in It's perfection in temperate chimes ana
the lack of systematic observations OF II
in the more favorable parts OF the earth
within the tropics have initiated against
the evolution OF a satisfactory theory TO
account for Its manifestations and many
curious explanations Of 1t have been put
forth from time TO time. In paper just
published by the Astronomical Society or
the Pacific. Francis J. Dapldon, OF the
British Royal Naval Reserve. makes pub
lie a summary OF observations Of .-le zo-
diacal light and its companion, the Gegen-
schein, which he made while at sea DUR
ing the past ten years, and the data thus
gathered under most favorable circum-
stances will. 1t is believed. prove Of great
value to. those seeking the cause Of the
phenomenon.
While sailing the seas in ATTITUDES from
IS degrees north TO an equal distance
south OF the equator, during the long
watches on deck at night, Mr.. Bayldon
paid great attention TO the zodiacal light
ana the records which he makes public
Of his observations during the ten months
preceding September 1898. prove that he
was greatly favored by opportunity and
that he is a careful and accurate observer.
These observations were all made while
on board the Canadian-Austraian Royal
Mail steamer Aorangi trading between
sydney New South Wales. and Vaneou-
yer, and In themselves cover phenomena
seen at different places on the Pacific
ranging from ~ degrees % minutes north
latitude to 10 degrees south latitude and
almost from side 10 side OF that ocean.
They we're chosen from scores OF ohser-
vations because OF features of special In
terest.
observations In the Pacific.
II has long been known that in the tr0p-
les the zodiacal light and the Gegenschesn
presented themselves to the gaze both Of
toner and more perfectly than In more
northern ATTITUDES, and Mr. Bayldon dis
covered that the air over the Pacific ocean
Is clearer and more favorable for these
observations than that over the Atlantic,
and that Honolulu IS most favorahly sit
uated as regards latitude ana clearness OF
air for critical observation OF the zodt-
acai light. There the strange light often
bridges the entire sky. Joining and heoom-
ing one with the Gegenscheln-and Il is
one OF his conclusions that on every morn
ing and evening in tropical regions ~hen
the sky Is clear and the moon Is either
IN the first or last quarter the eastern and
western cones OF light may be seen, while
on very clear moonlight nights the band
| OF light reaching from horizon 20 horizon
would be visible during the whole night.
| In our cline The Eodiacal light makes It's
appearance only after sunset In spring and
before sunrise in the autumn ana tho
| occasions when II becomes more than a
cone OF light reaching up from thc suu 8
position are rare indeed. The presence 81
the full moon hides II and the smallest
amount Of mist In the air causes II 10 dis
appear. when Il does show. II Is as a
| mass OF soft luminosity. as bright Or
brighter than the Milky Way taperine Ike
| a cone with its apex rarely rising higher
| than the cluster Of the 'lciAdes or seven
Sisters The axis of the cone approxi-
| mates 20 the hHe 81 The ecliptic Occa-
| rionaliy. but only 90 long intervals she
| 6cgcnschein has been seen. while the COM
Meeting band OF light has been discovered
in European latltudee by only . few OBJ
servers having particularly favored places
| for making their susdies ~ the heaveuR
Very different o. he -igst which erccts
Tho observer ga the tropics on a clear.
1ioonleas evening. lie viii notice That the
twilight seems 10 !lnFcr near The track
| on the sun and Ern gradually a scerna 90
| draw itself together aui grow brighter
until Il stands out distinctly iu a broad
footed hand o. Hight resting on tho horl-
ron. The Hight 70 brightest near tbc h0yf-
ron and IN tho center % the cone and
| fades on gradually untN the lines where
| Il Is lost are difficult 20 establish Aa Il
rlsea II nRrruwa at fret rapidly and then
more gradually. untr az heights lint vary
| from time 20 time II resolves itself into
a band Of light. perhaps 20 degrees 80
more 81 width. which reaches across The
| ssy 20 the 0egennchein. which Flvala ~
brightness the como ~ ilRht ia the tran
~ the sun. The GeEeneehein asasus 90
| take on fRncifai changes under varying
| circumstance. 0fior appearing rs bright
1 oval Il light instead q a cone
| It Is sights Hke thie Whlah Sir Rayi4an
| describes Sra parts OK his lapsr. on ONO
| ~ thssc nights. August %. iess. The rpec-
tacle became an brilliant that no woke
| ap fellow oelcer - the Ftip 20 witness
a, Tnla uiRhf vas ne1E 90 ere enA ~
| "a series o. HiRht observations Of the Hrat
walch extended continuously from August
| 90 August 70. lnaiusivs. Of this uikht
/ Hr. Eay.e0u wrote.
AaKust ie-N. 49, s. AoranKl. latitude
% south ianRituae I15 degrees vest.
| 81. n. After mo1naet weas branch fnir-
| Iy uriEst. brighter than q late. 20 the
GALAXY. Outlines much as before hut
mot l4itT 80 Tar morrill, GeEeuEcheia
visible from 2 g. m.. EfariF Circular.
with blank space as hes9re. hut fhe
Whole 9tgeuaehrln Is brighter than ~
| ate and the blank Space Showed .ha
siish.H1t iluinoa.ty thossa sttl lark
~ taan tHe surrounding portions. to-
aGrl A o. 49,. when if naE overhead
fa g. In Wight u9 gr.l foentF clear
East branch quite distinct and very
or1a1 fatnsr more to tae au1ta than
% late Ihe fuu outlines easily seen
2sre 10 degrees broad across Era sky.
tae broadcast I have yet seen tae eon-
meeting band fta center WaH bright
er aud raofc concentrated Tor III breadth
- % aeEfees and the GegenHchefn
formed part oi Tails brighter central
-ugt.Qu.
Alcnisht-The ligat formed a uniform
broad path ~ luminosity ACROSS the axy
go. 81 trss. sa-a