The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-29
Observers at Algfers and Elsewhere
Report Weird Atmospheric Eff
fects ON Land and Sea.
TWO OR THREE DISCOVERIES
SCIENCE GAINS MORE KNOWLEDGE
CONCERNING THE CORONA.
Prof. Howe Relocates the Tiny Planet
Eros-Effect of the Shadow Bands
Interest I'm This City.

WASHINGTON. May 2s.-Advices re-
ceived at the Naval Observatory from its
agents in various points In the South show
that favorable weather prevailed for OBJ
serving the suns eclipse to-day that the
contact occurred very close TO schedule
time and that the programme arranged
was carried out without hitch Three
parties were sent out from the observa-
tory. namely-one to Pinehurst, N. c., in
charge of Prof. Aaron N. Skinner; one to
Barnesville. Ca. in charge of Professor
Updegraf. and one to Griffin. Ca, In
charge Of Prof. s. J. Brown.
Superintendent c. II. Davis. of the obser-
vatory was In communication with these
officials by telegraph, and during the day
he received the following from Professor
Skinner. at Pinehurst N c. "Clear sky
and favorable, permitting successful OBJ
servation of eclipse. All seventeen instru-
ments successfully operated. Contact oc-
Cured very close to predicted time. Corona
very fine. Mercury the only star visible"
Professor Updegraff and Professor Brown
merely reported that their observations
were successful.
In Washington the weather was slightly
cloudy. which somewhat marred the op-
portunities for getting a satisfactory OBJ
servation of the eclipse. The eclipse ar
rived just q few seconds ahead of schedule
time, but the irregularity was so slight
that an ordinary observer could not have
discerned IL. The trained star gazers claim
that the contact came from five TO eight
seconds before IL was due, but the diff
Guilty of telling just when the actual con-
tact came was so great, because OF cloud
which passed, that even they cannot quite
agree among themselves. They do agree,
however, that II was one OF the most re-
markable predictions in the history OF as
tronomy, 1t being doubtful IL ever before
the time of arrival of eclipse was SO ac-
curately announced in advance.
The first contact was scheduled TO take
place at forty-four minutes two seconds
past o'clock, meridian time. which is
minutes and Is 7-10th seconds faster than
Washington time. A few seconds before
that time the edge of the sun and moon
were I'm contact, but IL was several seconds
later before the naked eye. looking through
smoked glass, could tell that the eclipse
was actually taking place. From the mo-
ment of first contact until the period OF
nearest approach to totality. at exactly .
o'clock, the light faded gradually until the
city was IN a condition of hazy twilight
The watchers at the observatory gazed
at the phenomena through a 26-inch and a
Pinch equatorial telescope. while another
official used a comet finder. There were
no attempts at photography. as all the in
struments for such purposes had been sent
South. The only object of the watchers I'm
Washington was to catch and record the
time of the first and final contact and the
exact moment OF the nearest approach TO
totality. At exactly o'clock 30 per cent.
OF the suns face was obscured. The final
contact was scheduled for is minutes and
Is seconds past 10 o'clock. Each OF
the three watchers got a different time.
One OF them recorded sixteen minutes and
ten seconds. another eight seconds and
the third seven seconds. the discrepancy
being due probably TO difference In the
strength of the instruments The phe-
nomena OF the moons shadow bands.
which was promised as an accompaniment
for the eclipse, was not observable here.
inch instrument took particular pains to
see whether the other phenomena prom
ised-that caused by the suns rays falling
through the leaves OF trees-was present,
and he was rewarded for his pains. With
an unshadowed sun the rays streaming
through leaves produce little circles or
light on the ground beneath. While the
shadow was on the sun to-day Mr.. Boeger
found that these circles were changed to
crescents.
Unofficial reports which have reached
Washington indicate that the eclipse was
visible 10 a greater or less degree I'm It's
entire path OF totaiity. Particularly for
tunate were the observers I'm the Southern
section of the country. where the weather
seemed TO be unusually favorable for secur-
ing the Photographic data which the
scientist was so anxious 20 obtain. though
IN some portions towards the gulf the
weather was cloudy. In some OF the South
ern cities during the period OF totality
stars were visible almost directly over
head In Richmond q most striking feature
OF the eclipse was short but brilliant
rainbow on the west or contact side OF The