The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-13

1t favor in any of its details the mora
pretentioas apparatus with which the nro-
iessionai portrait-maker does the work OF
| his studio.
Inc astronomical camera referred to ia
queer looking structure. First, there is
scafolding of woodwork, most carefully
| constructed and rearing itself forty feet
In the air. This is to form the support for
framework of iron, which is to rest upon
it at an angle and will extend nearly fifty
feet toward the heavens. Through the
iron frame there will be passed a canvas
| tube, light-tight, and in the upper end of
this will be inserted fiYe-inch objective.
| or lens. At the lower end of the canvas
tubing there will be constructed at Pine
hurst, N. c., which is in the line of to-
tally, and at which point the apparatus
is to be operated, huge shed-like box.
In this will be the large sensitive plates,
upon which the images of the sun in
eclipse are to be registered. The astrono-
mers will do their work in the box of the
great camera
This machine, along with the other para
phernalia which is to be used by the Naval
Observatory experts, has already been sent
to the South, in order that there may be
ample time to set it up and adjust it. AS
the totally Of the eclipse will last only
one and half minutes at the point where
the astronomers are to establish their main
station, 1t will be seen that the greatest
care will have to be exercised in adjusting
the mnufh of tho titanic IL
will point directly at that spot in the heav-
ems where the sun will be when the inter-
posing moon shuts the great luminary
from view.
Prof. A. n. Skinner will superintend the
erection of the machine, and has already
gone to Pinehurst for that purpose, &C.
compan!ed by several assistants. Pinehurst,
GAINESVILLE, Ga, and several other paths in
the line where the eclipse assumes totality,
were selected by the astronomers for the
reason that the skies in that part Of the
country are much less likely to be clouded
will also be completely hidden on May rs.
With the enormous picture making ma
chine devised by those in charge at the
Naval Observatory, negatives will be Sc
cured from which images of the sun four
and one-half inches in diameter will be
printed. But 1t is not SO much the black
spot indicating the hidden sun that will in
terest the astronomers. The photographs
will be taken especially for the purpose of
studying that mysterious halo, or atmos- |
phere of the sun styled the corona. On the |
Photographic plates this halo will appear
two or three times larger than the image |
Of the luminary.
This corona and the other appendages of |
the sun, Of which the experts hope to OBJ !
tain excellent negatives on May rs by the |
use of very sensitive and especially pre-
pared plates, has been one of the great !
mysteries of the science of astronomy. In |
fact, there are, it is believed, more things |
to be learned concerning it than are at |
present known, and the opportunity to !
again photograph 1t Is hailed with salts |
faction by the men who devote their lives
to the study and investigation OF the heav-
emily bodies.
Special arrangements have been made |
for the coming phenomenon on account of |
the desire to learn more about the corona
and other solar appendages. The astrono-
mers anticipate that. with the aid of the
giant camera. they will secure images of |
the greatest value to scientific investiga-
ton.
One Of the Naval Observatory experts
said before leaving for the South to aid In
the arrangements for observing the eclipse
and securing accurate data: There is
nothing more confusing or complex than
the suns corona in the whole solar system
During every eclipse of the past half cen
fury the attention Of astronomers has been !
upon this halo of the earth's
great luminary. 1t is only within COM
paratively recent years that the corona has
been discovered to be an actual part Of the
sun. II is surmised that this atmosphere
is composed of gaseous vapor, which,
from its peculiar constituents, is visible as
q halo about the mass OF the orb.
I'VE are especially interested in the new
of this solar appendage, how
ever because OF the diverse character of
those which have been taken in eclipses
during past years. AT times IL has as
sumed the form of q halo of light around
the sun. AT other periods it has appeared
like general glow. But more frequently
1t is seen as a long shaft extending from
opposite sides of the sun.
photographs taken during the total
eclipse of 1878 show that 1t was visible
for a distance Of one million miles on each
side OF the orb. Owing to the intensely
luminous character Of the sun. 1t has been