The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-04-29
ALL WANT TO SEE
0LDS0L' FACE HID
Astronomers Preparing to Witness
the Total Eclipse.
SEARCH FOR OTHER WORLDS
The Camera to Play a Most Important
Part in These Observations and
Scientists Will Be i'll
Theia Glory.
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Astronomers all over the country are
beginning to get very busy these days
preparing for the coming total eclipse OF
the sun, which will take place on May
oSth Expeditions are being planned and
favorable locations are being selected so
that not the slightest phase OF the inter
esting natural phenomenon may be over
locked The work is being done in sys-
tematic manner under the direction OF the
United States Nautical Observatory,
which is now in correspondence with hum
dreds of astronomers and scientists who
are anxious to take part in the fascinat-
inc work.
A YEAR OF PREPARATION.
Prepare lions for the observation Of the
circulars of information have been sent
out to absent ones all over the United
States where the eclipse will be seen,
either totally or partially, giving da-
grams of the path of totality and many
interesting lines of study which the
eclipse viii bring up. Not since 1878 has
there been a total eclipse visible in the
United States, and as regards Cincinnati
there has not been one since 1859, and
that even was not total here. For this
reason the eclipse will be especially inter-
esting to the rising generation, to whom
such a phenomenon will indeed be a nov
city.
While the eclipse locally Will not be
total, it ought to be a very spectacular
heavenly display. Only a very small por-
tion OF the suns disk will be left unob-
scured, so that the result will be almost
as good as if the whole surface CT the
king OF day had been blotted out
AN EARLY MORNING EVENT.
The darSening OF the sun will take
place in the early hours, just after be has
dispersed the mists of the morrt-ls and
is shining out clear and strong. T32 first
premonition of the coming eclipse will be
at exactly Al minutes and 81 seconds af-
ter 6 O'Clock. At that time, If the sun
and moon keep nearing each other at the
rate the scientists have laid out for them
close observers, through smoked glass,
will notice on the lower side of the brill
liant ORB a slight srayness, like thin
cloud of smoke. Gradually and slowly
the gray shadow darkens until distinct
black blotch makes its appearance. Ihis
is the moon itself i1rtercepting the flood
of light from the sun. Slowly fair Luna
becomes more and more apparent, While
the ssulfli ght wakes DINNER and dhnIner.
An unnatural twilight forms in the
early morning hours. The chickens,
scarcely beginning the days scratching,
look uneasily at each other and wonder
who secured the one-hour labor scheduie
and the birds get ready for bed again
AT the middle point only a very s1na II
portion of the sun is left shining like a
diamond. while the rest Of the sun IS CD
scurely outlined as a great red ball.
OVER AT g O'CLOCK
Then the moon begins to pass on. mo 70
at minutes and IS seconds after s
O'Clock the display will be fully oyer.
Expressed in mean solar time, the eclipse
begins at Z hours minutes and % sec,
onds and ends at 9 hours % minutes am. aIu
IL seconds. The standard time IS given given
abo.
The eclipse, while interest1ns VII pre- ol.
sent no unusual aspects to local observ-
ers. At the Obserya tory Prof. Porter and
his assistant, Mr. Vowel, will conf1ne
themselves to noting as accuratety as
possible the exact second of contact o.