Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-05-26

| tory IN expected 10 head party at
| Thomaston. Ga. Parties from the ma
val observatory in charge Of Professor
S. J. Brown, Z. S. ~, viii be located at
GAINESVILLE and Griffin IN Georgia
They will comprise not only a large
| number Of the observatory staff, but a
number Of associate members from the
JOHNS Hopkins and other universities
in various parts Of the country. 1t is
expected that this party will devote
special attention TO photographlng the
eclipsed sun with view Of com. 1ring
the exact position Of the moon JD the
sun with that predicted in th" ro-
nomicai ephemeris. 1t will Probably
be the most richly equipped Of Al ex-
petitions, so far as money val es are
concerned. having been aided ] an
appropriation Of $1,000 by congress.
The ready accessibility Of Norfolk
and its ncighborhood may be expected
to lead to a great influx Of spectators.
Virginia Beach. which Is readily acces.
sble, is not far north of the central
line. But it is quite possible that OBJ
servers on or around Hampton Roads
may really see some grand features of
the scene which will not be grasped by
those in the interior. If the astronom-
ical tables are perfectly exact, the edge
OF the shadow will pass over Newport
News and Old Point Comfort. Specta-
tors at these points win therefore have
the shadow on one side Of them and
sunlight on the other. Unfortunately,
the astronomer cannot guarantee the
correctness of his prediction within
two or three miles. This is not sur
prising If one reflects that the correct
ness Of the predictions must depend on
the position and motion of n heavenly
body nearly a quarter of n million
miles away, which has to be derived
from tables made a whole generation
in advance by mathematical methods
so difficult that the most palnstaking
researches of the ablest mathemati-
clans of the world have not yet brought
them to perfection.
Yet another difficulty in the case
arises from the irregular outline of the
moon. The surface of our satellite is
variegated with mountains and valleys
which make its outline extremely IT.
regular. The exact situation of these
objects and their effect on the total
phase cannot be predicted. 1t will
readily be seen that the sun might hap
pen to shine through valley ON the
lunar surface so as to throw it's light
mile or more within the calculated linn
its of the shadow For these reasons it
Is impossible to say exactly what the
observers around Hampton Roads will
see-whether a momentary total eclipse
or one during the greatest phase of
which there will still be glimpses of
the light of the sun Equally difficult
is it to say whether there will be a
great contrast between the compare
tive darkness of the shadow which will
envelop the south side of the bay to-
ward Norfolk and the little glimpses of
sunshine which will be seen on the
land side. However this may be, we
may be assured that the wide extent of
view afforded by Hampton Roads will
add greatly to the magniticence of the
spectacle
An observer who wishes TO see the
phenomenon to the best possible adj
vantage should use a comparatively
small telescope of low power-a com
mon spyglass or even an opera glass
win suffice With such an instrument
he can take in the whole effulgence
surrounding the densely black body of
the moon at a single view. The rosy
prominences will be perhaps the most
interesting detail that can be observed.
They are not always entirely red. The
forms are of the most fantastic and
varied character. AS the writer saw
enc of them during the eclipse of 1869
it might almost be described as looking
like Il huge pile of snow peaks, glaciers
and clouds shining in the full light of
the sun and varying in tint from a
light rosy hue to the brilliant white of
n distant snow peak.
\ very important point to be consid-
cred is the probability of "A clear sun
during the total phase. The weather
bureau has for two years past caused
special observations to be made in va
rious towns along the line of totality.
with a view of throwing light on this
point. II dDlltdlS IIbili tLit ItShIAo vi
these investigations that the chances
of n clear sky are unusually good.
They are best in northern Georgia and
South Carolina and gradually dimin-
ish toward the seacoast, but even Mt
Norfolk there seems to he more than an
even chance of success.
The scientific value of observations
made during total eclipses of the sun
arises from the fact that the suns sur
roundiugs can be scanned to the best
advantage only ON these rare occasions.
Under all ordinary circumstances these
surroundings are rendered nearly or
quite invisible by nm obstacle which
the human race. with all its powers,
las not been able TO evade. This is
uethiug less than the atmosphere in
which we are obliged to dwell. If the
earth were not surrounded by this en-
Vulppe. if we could look ont from its
surface into blank space, the sky