The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-05-23

Importance is the accurate observa.
ton of the times Of beginning and
ending of the eclipse 1t is easy to
see that the mathematical considera
ton upon which are based our theo
ries of luGar motion will be put to 8
very severe test in predicting the
exact instant when the sun will be
covered up by the moon If observa
ton agrees with prediction. we have
the strongest corroborative evidence
Of the correctness of our theory and
of our numerical calculations Or
the other hand, if it be found that the
predictions are slightly in error. the
amount of that error can be deter
mined by observation, and mathemat
ical theory thus corrected for the
benefit of future predictions. Al
though our knowledge in this depar.
ment OF astronomy has reached
very high state of perfection. it is
fact that we cannot predict the times
of eclipse today withou. possibility
of error amounting to several Sec
onds. Part of this error is due no
doubt to insufficient knowledge of
the moons size, or to the possibility
that contact between sun and moon
may occur at q very irregular or
mountainous part of the, lunar surface.
But each eclipse tends to improve
our information and make our mathe
ma,ical theories more perfect.
The greatest interest, however.
centers about the physical observa
tlons possible during total eclipse
Our sun is not merely the blazing,
brilliant, luminous globe we see
every day in the heavens. The fiery
center bali has vast outer append
age, stretching millions of miles into
space-1he deIicately tinted, tenuous,
6lmy, unexplained corona 1t is the
corona that makes total eclipse 80
beautiful, regarded merely as spec
tacle to be seen and enjoyed Its
light is much fainter than that of the
sun; we can see it only when the
later is completely obscured. At all
other times the bright light of the
central ball eliminates the air sur
rounding our earth 80 as to make it
far superior in brightness to the faint
corona /; and observers looking per
force til 'ough this Illuminated air
cannot distinguish the delicate tracery
of the corona itself But when the
advancing of the moon slowly covers
the sun'e central disc, until at last
only a narrow sickle shaped piece is
left, the waiting astronomers have a
few moments of intense expectation
The sickle nar:ows gradually but a
mere thread is left; yet even that is
quite sufficient to mask the corona
Then. suddenly, all is covered. On
the instant. as though at the touch of
magician's wand. outbursts the
splendid corona into view IT'S
a sight of beauty indescribable, i'm
pressive beyond comparison Men
that have been privileged to see it,
ever after tell of its having given one
of life's most exciting moments.
never to be forgotten
But the quiet scientific investlga.
tor tries to nake use of these rare
opportunities to obtain some ! wi
edge of the true constitution ;. our
sun Before the corona's appearance,
Just as the brilliant central disc is
being totally obscured. there are
very few brief important seconds
when we receive light direct from
the outer layers Of the solar globe,
and these moments ofes the only
chance to examine directly the glow
ing gases that make up the SUMS out
side envelope Much Of our collar
knowlege has been thus gathered
painfully in the few heetiDg minutes
of observation made possible by cue
cessive total eclipses. Then it is
tba, we see great red flames flashing
hundreds OF thousands of miles out
into space Curling, interlscing,
ever changing, veritable cloudbursts
of living fire, these are proofs of the
power and violence of natures hid
den forces.