The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-29
HOW ECLIPSE WAS OBSERVED,
IMPORTANT SCIENTIFIC DATA sE-
CURED BY ASTRONOMERS.

observations Were Made Under the
Most Favorable Circumstances.
Work of Prof. Ashmore and DR..
Aiken at the Naval Observatory ait
BarnesviiIe Many photographs
We're Obtained at All The Inpor-
tant Points.
Ba,nesville, Ca, May 2S.-The great to-
tai eclipse of the sun, passed off to-day
on schedule time under the most favor
able conditions and the hearts of astron-
omers are happy with the hope that the
results will prove a real contribution to
astronomical science.
The first contact was observed by
Profs. Hill of the Naval Observatory and
Ashmore of Savannah. In both instru-
nents the contact was sharp and dis
tinct, and both observers were in close
accord with each other and with the
computed time.
Within half an hour after the first con-
tact the landscape began to take on
peculiar gloomy appearance and a slight
chillness was noticeable. AS the time Of
totality approached every observer was
beats of the electric sounder marking
off the time in unison with the great OBJ
servatory clock in Washington, could be
heard. Every eye was directed to that
position of the SUMS limb where the con-
tact was TO appear.
Suddenly the black ragged edge of the
moon obstructed itself upon the bright
disc of the sun gradually stealing across
Its surface and The eclipse was on For
the next hour but little observation was
made or needed. During this time, how
eve'', the observing party went through
another dill to get ready for the supreme
moments Of totality.
Magnificent Corona.
Over on high hill one mile to the
north an observer was stationed to an
nounce the coming shadow from the
southwest. The horizon was clear for
many miles, and soon the black wall of
the on-rushing umbra was seen approach
ING with the velocity of a cannon bali In
g. rev seconds 1t overwhelmed our station
and the Total phase was upon us.
Instantly from all sides of the sun there
flashed a beautiful corona of a wonderful
pearly lustre extending itself on opposite
SIDES or the sun in the shape of double
ian. 1t was just such a corona as I had
expected
The solar prominences were plainly Wis
1ble, and especially were they marked In
, extent on the western limb. saw but few
polar streamers, but these were distinct.
In the brief space of eighty-three sec
ohds twenty photographs were obtained
on the solar axes and four in the photo
heiiograph. l succeeded in getting a good
crayon sketch of the corona and promi-
nences by special arrangement with Dr.
AiKsn 1,.an OF Savannah and Prof. Chappell of
MDledgeville.
Work of DIR. Aiken
The shadow bands were carefully oh
served and DIR. Aiken, in his own skill
Iui way, photographed them, but it is not
YET known that this was successful If
So Or. Aiken will have the distinguished
hohor Of being the first to succeed in this
delicate work
soon the fash of the sun as it reap
peared announced the end of totality and
corona disappeared as suddenly as 1t came
INTO view For an hour or more the
moon slowly crawled off the disc of the
sun without special incident
Many amateur photographers took snap
snots at the corona, and 1t is to be hooed
with some success. The whole phenome-
non was most beautiful and impressive
The town is full of people. manv of
"nob' are distinguished men.
some of the photographs will be de-
Ve1oped here, but most of them will be
taKen 10 Washington for more careful
iilahipulaton. The observing party will
ieaVe lor Washington in few days.
AShmore