Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-05-26

tial.
Since the moon moves from west to
east this shadow cone will sweep
across the country in nn easterly direc
tion. On May 2stb, this shadow cone
will strike the earth in the Pacific
ocean about 100 miles west or the
lower end Of Southern California. 1t
will pas over Central Mcxico-strike
the United States in the vicinity Of
New Orleans and moving little north
of east Will pass Mobile, Raleigh and
Norfolk. Then passing across the At
lantlc it will cross Spain and extreme
northern Africa to again leave the
earth at the western shore of the Red
Sea.
The velocity Of this shadow is least
when the sun is eclipsed near midday
and Is about 1,100 miles per hour, not
far from the velocity of II cannon ball,
but when the event happens near sun
rise or sunset and the shadow is
thrown obliquely the velocity increases
to fully 1000 miles.
The first indication of an eclipse is
a narrow dark streak at the suns west
ern edge where the moon is beginning
to obtrude itself ON the suns bright
face. This dark streak increases in
size until, IL one is ia the line OF to.
tality, the entire surface of the sun is
hidden. AS soon as the body of the
sun is hidden II glorious pcarly halo
is seen surrounding it which is the
suns outer atmosphere and is known
as the corona. II extends out five hun
dred thousand miles in all directions,
gradually fading away at its outer
edge. 1t is sometimes quite uniform in
appearance then again it is strangely
banded and striated. At this time
the temperature drops, sometimes
enough to produce dew, animals are
disturbed, birds go to roost and the
remaining light is 50 peculiar as to
give objects strange unnatural ap-
lpearance.
AS the moons distance from the
earth varies it sometimes happens that
it can barely cover the sun and there
is light enough so that one can see to
read, then again the moon considera-
bly, more than covers the sun and it
becomes so dark that artificial light
is necessary, and the brighter stars
can be easily seen.
AS totality approaches the moons
shadow can be seen coming across the
country with velocity that is start
ling. a unique phenomenon is seen
with the partially eclipsed sun in the
shadows of trees. Ordinarily the sun
light shining through the small open
ing between the leaves of the trees,
produces circular or clliptical spots
on the ground, but when the sun is
largely hidden the spots Oh the ground
assume u crescent shape--being really
images of the sun.
At the time of n total eclipse many
things may ebc seen and measured,
which are not visible at any other
time, owing to the intense brightness
Of the sun, so expeditions are sent from
the national observatories to points
along the line of totality to secure this
information which leads to increased
knowledge of the motions of the moon
and sun and of the physical character
of the latter. AS the length of the to-
tai phase is short, never over eight
minutes and usually not more than
three or four, it is necessary for every
thing to be arranged beforehand so
that each observer will know just
what to do, and he must do 1t right
speedily. The eclipse of May % will
be rather unfavorable in this respect,
since the duration of totality will be
less than two minutes.
The observers grouped along the
line of totality will observe the fol
Iow4ng things. Accurate times of be-
ginning and ending and from this will
be determined with great accuracy the
relative positions of sun and moon.
Search for any planet or planets which
may possibly exist nearer the sun
than Mercury Measurement of the in
tensity Of light as the eclipse pro-
crosses. Telescope and Photographic
observations Of the corona to deter
mine more than the little that is al
ready known of its nature. 0bserya-
tions with the spectroscope in analyz-
ing the light from the corona and es-
lpecially lower regions of the suns
atmosphere. Observations with the
thermometer and barometer to deter
mine the effects upon our own atmos-
phere.
This eclipse will be visible as partial
over all of North Amerlca-extreme