The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1900-05-31
ASTRONOMERS ARE ELATED|
Thousands Of Successful Photographs
Taken of Phenomenon aud Vast 0nt=
lay Of Government and Educa-
tional Institutions Well
Expended.
The eclipse of the sun Monday was

The eclipse of the sun Monday was
q phenomenal successZsaS~yisible
throughout North America, Europe
and Africa, but total only in some
parts of Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia,
North Carolina, South Carolina and
Virginia in the United States.
It was an event of first importance,
not only to astronomers but to the
world at large. It was unprecedented
in more than one respect. Its path of
totality instead of extending through
sparsely settled regions or running
over vast expanses of water, crossed
six states in a populous portion of
the country, all of the region being
easily accessible by rail or water.
It has been eleven years since SINH
lar event was witnessed, but the ad-
vancement of astronomical science
and tho marvellous improvements in
telescopes, photography and electrical
appliances insured more complete OBJ
servations than ever before known.
The United States government and all
great educational institutions made
elaborate and costly preparations to
get the best possible observations,
and millions of dollars were expended
in this way.
While great interest attached to the
eclipse itself, the object of the astron-
omers composing the s'eclipse expedi-
tions" from all parts of the country
was not alone to observe the passing
Of the moon before the sun, but the
study Of the corona. This particular
branch of the many phenomena gener-
ally attending an eclipse has always
been an unsolvable problem. It is the
belief of many astronomers that the
corona is product of the sun and has
nothing to do with the earth or moon,
as formerly suspected.
Generally speaking, the observations
taken by the astronomers Monday
were confined to three separate lines
of work-the old method of tele-
scopic observation, viewing of the
eclipse with the naked eye and the
photographing of the phenomena of
the eclipse. Fhe path of to:ality be-
gan at the Pacific ocean, just west of
Mexico. It passed eastward across
Mexico. an6 entering the United States.
near New Orleans, proceeded in a
northerly direction until it left the
continent close to Norfolk, Va.
The higher attitudes gave reason.
able assurance also of clearer atmos-
phere and at this season. of the year
less clouds are generally found, es-
pecially in Alabama, Georgia and
North Carolina. While the eclipse
was visible all over the country, it
was only within a path of about 55
miles in width, extending from New
Orleans to Norfolk that the obstruc-
tion was complete. It will be readily
seen, therefore, that a difference of
Eve miles in this belt made differ
ence of one-fifth in the matter of time
in which the obstruction could be wit
messed and position near the central
line Of totality increased in geometri.
cal proportion to the stuperdous gran
deur of the phenomenon.
Then it crossed the Atlantic, touch
ed Portugal, and afterward passed
across northern Africa, leaving the
earth finally near the northern end of
the Red Sea. In this country the
cities of New Orleans, Mobile, Mont
gomery, Raleigh. and Norfolk were in
the totslity path. Besides these cities
the path of darkness included thirty
other towns, which are large enough
to have their names on the map. Few
if any observatory parties were located
at the large cities for the reason that
they lacked the altitude, and an unob-
structed view for any distance was not
to be found.
At Barnesville, Ga, where the gov
ernment observing station was located,
the weather was very good, and the
conditions under which the observa-
tions were made were good. The pro-
gram was carried out without inter
ruption, without accident or delay.
Twenty photographs were secured on
the five cameras mounted On the polar
axis, and four photographs with the
large photoheliograph. The trans
parency of the sky was good and the
steadiness of the air was excellent;
in fact, is was unusually good. As
far as known, the observations were
entirely successful.
Eye observations of the solar prom
inences and also the corona were
made, and also observations of the
shadow bands both by eye and by
photography. Professor II. G. Lord
also made entirely successful obser-
vations, and although of such char
acter as to mako exceedingly sharp
To Change Marriage Law.