The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1900-05-19
Correspondence Baltimore County Onion.
A GREAT ECLIPSE COMING.

HEBBvILLE Nd, May 15 1900.
Messrs. Editors :-Of all the sciences cultlya-
ted by man Astronomy is. without doubt, the
matter-the celestial bodies-being of such vast
dimensions and stupendous proportions. their
distances and velocities almost inconceivaole,
sret all moving in perfect haI mony and unerring
precision, is well calculated 20 inspire in us feel
ings of admiration and astonfshment and lead
70 more exalted ideas of our great Creator
Of all celestial phenomenal none can be more
they 2dtt nj Al InzNgam8 lizlt2 Giulv
turtles. On the morning Of the 18th of the pres,
ent month the sun will be totally eclipsed at all
places on a slightly curved line from New Or
leans to Norfolk and partially 50 for consid-
cradle distance on each side of this line. AS is
well known an eclipse of the sun is caused by
the dark body of the moon coming between the
earth and sun thereby intercepting his light and
throwing her shadow upon the earth, The sun
and moon being both spheres, the shadow of the
moon is conical in shape and OF vary
that the moons shadow is sufficiently long to
reach the earth and extend a considerable dis
lance beyond, while at other times it will come
to point before reaching US. Should central
eclipse happen under the first named condition
it will be total, while under the second the
cover the sun, but would leave bright ring
unobscured. Such an eclipse is termed annu-
lar, from Latin Gnnulus ring, and, like total
eclipse, this phenomenon is of very rare occur
renee at the same place. The last annular
eclipse near here was in the year 1875, Septem-
Der Goth, and was annular at Boston, where the
ring lasted two minutes and thirty one seconds.
at the time of the present eclipse the relative
distances of the sun and moon are such that the
yond the earth, being about SO miles in diameter
at the surface. At all points where this shadow
will fall the sun will be totally eclipsed The
motion of the moon in its orbit being from west
to east, it follows that the shadow will first
touch the earth at some point where the sun is
rising and then sweep eastward over the surface
until it leaves at some point where the sun is
setting. The shadow in the present eclipse will,
after travelling the voids of space, first touch
118o 38> west latitude 17o so north. 1t will then
sweep eastward crossing Mexico, the Gulf of
Mexico, entering the United States in louisiana,
N. c., and Norfolk, Va. 1t then crosses the
Atlantic ocean, enters Portugal. crossing Spain,
the Mediterranean sea and Northern Africa,
leaving the earth finally in Egypt, near the Red
sea. The time occupied by this trip of several
thousands of miles is three hours and 10
minutes, SO our eclipse will be about over
before it begins in Egypt.
the eclipse with us will only be partial, but will
scured. The nearest point where the total
phase may be seen is Norfolk and thousands
will avail themselves of the opportunity. which
is the only one of q lifetime, as it will be many
years before another total eclipse will come so
close.
shrouded in darkness in broad daylight, as the
shadow of the moon sweeps by at a velocity of
about mile in two seconds the planets and
brighter stars become visible. and an unearthly
gloom which is said to agitate the animal tribes,
overspreads the landscape.
The surprising accuracy with which eclipses
can be predicted, not only for few years. but
for centuries and ages, is matter of wonder to
those who are unacquainted with the powers of
the mathematician to reveal the secrets of Ma
ture. The writer has known from childhood
that this eclipse would occur and looked for
ward to the prospect of seeing a total eclipse
with much expectation.
There will be an eclipse of the sun in 1905,
August 2Sth, when the shadow path will pass
through Canada. Another will occur in 1908,
June Goth, which will be annular on the central
line and will pr obably pass through the Southern
States about noon. In 1918, June 9Th, the
shadow path of a total eclipse will cross the
United States from Oregon to Florida in the
afternoon. All these eclipses will be visible
here as partial eclipses of greater or less mag
nitude. ]. b. H.