The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-15
THE RECENT ECLIPSE.
One of the Observers Gives Result Of
His Work.


Washington, June ia preliminary
account Of the observations made at
WadesborO, n. c., during the recent
eclipse, under the direction of the
Smithsonian institution has been pre-
pared by c. G. Abbott, of the instttu-
ton
The main object of investigation"
says Mr.. Abbott, was the corona, and
of this first, a Photographic study of
the detailed structure aDf the inner
corona; with, second, a determination
whether appreciable heat reaches US
from it. and, If possible, an examination
of the form of its spectrum energy
curve.
The eclipse was notably not a dark
one No second magnitude stars were
observed with the naked eye. Most OF
the observers saw only Mercury though
Venus was distinguished by some,
skimming through the trees, and Ca
pella also was seen by a few The high
degree Of illumination operated unfav-
orably in the study of the outer corona.
The fail of temperature and rising
breeze were distinctly noticeable before
tOtaIity- No change in direction of
wind was noted. Shadow bands were
SEEN but those observers who attempt
ed to measure their velocity found them
too rapid and Pickering for any Sue
cessful work in this direction yet there
was notable unanimity among indepen-
dent observers as to their size and dis
lance apart (about five inches).
1t was noticed EDal the DlEuS were
silent during totality, bur true to their
nature the English sparrows were last
to be still and first to begin their dis
cussionS Of the eclipse after the return
of light The attention of all visual
observers was caught by the equatorial
Streamers- Father WOOdman described
the appearance as like a mother of
pearl. but different observers differed
on the color and estimate"
A yeIlowish green tinge was noted by
the artist of the party, Mr. Child while
to others. the light was straw color or
golden. The visual telescope observa-
lions Of the writer gave little indication
OF the final finely divided structure of
the inner corona which he had noted
at Pixies Peak during the eclipse of 1878
Structure, to be sure was evident, but
not in such minute subdivision as had
been then seen. One remarkable prom
inence was seen as well as several
smaller ones, but the coFonal streamers
did not give to visual observers the
impression Of being connected in any
way with the prominences nor to the
writer was the telescope c0ronaI struc
ture connected with them All OBJ
servers reported a successful carrying
out of the programme The greatest
interest conferred in the direct corona
negatives taken with the 1876 foot tele-
scope.
Mr. SmiIlie exposed six 30x30 plates
during totaIity. with times ranging
from one-half to sixteen seconds All
these negatives have not yet been de-
welcomed Those of one-haIf second. two
seconds and four seconds exposure have
been hurriedly examined, however, and
they give clear indication of the cross
/ ing and re-crossing of hlaments like the
/ appearance OF a field Of grain bending
in the wind. The prominences and
polar streamers appear IN imposing
/ magnitude and detail
/ Mr.. Abbott with the aid OF Mr.. Men
/ denhau detected the heat of the corona
/ probably for the first time For five
/ lOmeter was successfully exposed TO the
/ region Of sky close to the narrowing
{ crescent Of the sun where the corona
/ was shortly to appear A diaphragm
4 was fnterposed the beam having apper-
! ture of only o. separate com. Defiati0us
rapidly diminishing from so to 6 NM.
/ were obtained. the last being about 40
+ seconds before totality- Then the dia-
| phragm was opened to 500 times its for
| mer dimensions and negative detection
( Of Is MN was observed after totally
/ where these positive defiecLions had
lust been found, showing that the corona
/ was actually cooler than the gray card
/ which had been used at the room tenn
perature- Next the black surface of the
/ moon was allowed to radiate upon the
/ boIometer. and the still larger negative
DETECTION Of nm was observed. The
important result was that the corona
/ gave a positive indication Of heat as
/ compared with the moon. This heat,
/ though certain. was, however. too slight
to be suDdlVIded 0y the dispersion OF
/ the prism. with the means at hand
The negatives taken to depict the out
er corona show from three to four solar
diameters extension the longest stream
ers- The equatorial wings assumed
more and more hair-lilZe proportions as
they recede from the sun and are finally
lost in an equally Illuminated sky, with
out having given any Indication of act
uaIIy coming to an end
No attempt to clearly examine the
plates taken for intra-mercuriaI planets
has yet been possible. It is however
doubtful If any very faint objects viii
be found. in consideration Of the con-
siderably sky Illumination during total
/ ity. However. Pleione and many faint
stars in the Pleiades were plainly seer
on one Of the plates
I On the whole the expedition may fair
" be considered as very satisfactory Il
| its results