The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-23
SHADOW PATH OF THE MOON
viii be Bristling With Telescopes on
Nav Is, Next.

washington L. ~ jail. S%.-ODScA a
tions of the total eclipse of the sun, ad-
vertised for May rs, will be conducted in
some ways extremely interesting and al
together unprecedented. For example,
photography is to be employed to an ex-
tent unthought of on any previous occa-
sion of the kind, involving not only the
exposure of many thousands Of plates for
scientific record, but incidentally an at
tempt to secure moving pictures of the
phenomenon If this later purpose can be
accomplished it will be practicable 10 ex-
hibit some sort of counterfeit OF the won
drous spectacle by machine, just as if it
were a prize fight. and theatre audiences
all over the country will have a chance to
admire it between turns of vaudeville.
Another new experiment of Importance
will be the preparation Of a continuous
circuit by the Western Union company all
along the path Of the coming eclipse from
New Orleans to Norfolk, in order that It
may be practicable to telegraph ahead Of
the moon. But, to make this clearly un-
dersteod. it ought to be explained that
the shadow of the lunar orb. after pass
ing over Mexico in an easterly direction.
reaches New Orleans al 7:27 a. m. and
continuing on its way does not arrive at
Norfolk until $50 a m This allows a
period Of nearly an hour and a half. dur
ing which the phenomenon NAV be
watched from different points on its track
across the southeastern portion OF the
United States. Though the mighty shad-
ow moves at the rate of 1000 miles an
hour II is easy enough to overtake it with
the electric spark. Thus. in case an as
Economical observer near Atlanta. say,
noticed anything peculiar. he could wire
70 some Of the stations further along. re-
questing the observers AZ those points 70
look out specially for the matter In ques-
ton.
The paths Of ecllpses are apt TO be 10
Gated in out-of-way parts OF the world, 80
great distances in order 70 witness them
Luckily. however. this particular eclipse
arranges itself so that the shadow % the
moon viii pass directly through one Of
the densely settled sections Of the United
States. The cities Of New Orleans. Mo
bile. Montgomery Raleigh. and Norfolk.
as We'll as many minor towns lie directly
within the shadow-path. and thus hun
dreds % thousands OF persons viii have
an opportunity 70 see that most wonder
ful spectacle Of astronomy. the the solar
corona-a phenomenon which is Qevsr vfs-
ible except on the occasion OF a total
eclipse % the sun.
Already astronomers are making prep
arati5ns 70 locate stations along the
shadow-path and TO carry out scientific
observations on an extensive scale. The
chief fear IS lest clouds interfere with OBJ
seTvation. and. IN order % give help in
this matter. the United States Weather
bureau has made a survey 81 the sky dur
ing the last three years along The path
that VIII BE- trsversed By the shadow. As
a result. II IS able q pola; oat the local
ities where the heavens are nnost likely
70 be free from clouds. central Georgia
and eastern Alabama being found 20 ofTer
the most promising c51dlst0ns.
Jast after sunrise fhe shadow viii en-
ter Mexfco FROM the west. and. when +.
leaves shis country. near No-folk. II wiu
cross The Atlantic Ocean ard touch Eu-
rome a. Csimhra. Portugal Next Il viii
take IN Alxiers and northern Africa and
z5ll vanish AZ snnss. near the northern
end a. the Rad Sea L wgH cross Spain
IN the afternoon after s'cI5ck
total eclipse = ths F7a nay fairly -
caHed the most bsastafsl saa ruvs,e-loas
spectacle fn nature. ard the phenomenon
occurs or TIE Earth only about serenity
fI-ues IN q ceafurF- Nothing else A. All
Ike Il can be lrnasine5. and 81 Is nef sur
r-szf-g that n snzne na~ra y Tie w-iH
-=----s,-s -esrsses ever ~ efs es-s=sersf fEaw
regard TIE darkenias x The sur Elth ;er-
ro- ard de<psir- In India ard + parts -
China religious ceTsuoz1ss are performed