Evening journal., 1900-05-28
MOON CROSSED
THE SUMS RAYS
Eclipse Of the Luminous Orb
by the Satellite
WAS VISIBLE IN THIS SECTION
Smoked Glass Used by Many Observers
During the Passage -Aine-tenthS
TOtaIity Observed Here
WAS VISIBLE IN THIS SECTION

About g o'clock to-day the eclipse Of
the sun began in Delaware; the maxi
mum was reached at about 9.15, when
about nine-tenths OF the suns disc was
obscured by the moon. The moon pass
ed without the path of the suns
rays to this section Of the country at
1921.
Smoked glass and strained neeks
were plentiful About all corners
where the sun usually pours down its
rays were groups of persons holding
smoked glasses through which view
Of the eclipse could be seen. The glass
was of all sorts from the dirty window
pane to the clear crystal. and everyone
who could get a chance had a look
With the exception OF the north
western corner Of Alaska. the eclipse,
in a greater or lesser degree was OBJ
servable over the whole OF North
/ America. the diameter OF the moons
shadow on the earth being about 4.400
miles, while the length OF the shadow
line was about 7.400 miles from west to
east The shadow travelled over the
/ earth's surface at about thirty-seyen
miles an hour.
The total eclipse OF the sun, however,
was observable only within track
about fifty miles broad, which, so far
as this country is concerned, crossed
the United States from New Orleans to
& Norfolk, and at the latter point the du-
ration Of totality was longest-about
one minute and forty seconds.
A MARVELLOUS SIGHT.
Tt is related by Professor Maunder in
his report on the Indian eclipse of 1895
that during the solemn moments of to-
tality one of the picturesque Indian ma.
tive guards threw himself on his knees
and, with hands outstretched to HEAVIER
and the hidden winged sun. engaged il
his deyotions. This striking attitude
and profound appreciation OF the true
sublimity of the occasion has been 81
immoralized lin that report as to be.
come also the very symbol Of the inner
awestruck wOnderment OF those Oh
servers of a total eclipse who are forti-
fed by the inspiring teachings Of sci.
enee.
To the cultured astronomer, as well
as to all other observers, a total
! eclipse of the sun remains the most
. marvellous OF terrestrial sights, and
many, doubtless, will regret having ne
! elected the greatest opportunity Of the
. century afforded to eastern North
: America of Witnessing the sublimesi
! phenomenon known to mankind ny moi
making the comparatively short jour
: ney to Norfolk or to some other point
: within the line Of tOtality.
: AS the years Of the present scientific
century crowd to the end, the civilized
: world Is thrilled with the revelations
of the wonderful mechanism Of tho
heavens, but in no part more than in
the chapters portraying the marvellous
constitution Of the sun. Within q
e generation, the mystery of all tn,
: times, the intimate nature of the stars
has been visibly dispelled, and the sun
as day star to us. greatest and nearest
has become the object Of the most ar.
dent and varied scientific study.
Telescopes perfected in visual powei
, and in Photographic range; spectre
scopes revealing an entire new heavens
in their constellation of lines, or els'
showing the awful seething Of the solal
I chromosphere in a single primary
/ tint; bolometers measuring the ra lian
energy to an infinitesimal fraction Of {
degree, and feeling the inspiration O
! knowledge along spectral bounds
\ where the human eye is blind; spectre
photographs, photographing in few
4 seconds aud on a single plate thu
e faculae ana spots Of the photosphere
S together with the invisible fiery lorna
z does Of the outer solar layers-ail hav'
translated. even to the popular mind
I, the story of the far flaming sun.
r In the actual scientific observation
S of to-days fetal eclipse many new ap
= pliances and new methods of worl
y competed in unveiling new discoveries
: Long focus telescopic cameras caugh
q the intricate details of the inner co
roma, while lenses of shortest focu
T. traced the long coronal streamers
n Prismatic cameras printed the flasl
y lines of the reversing layer" and tn
r new spherical Photographic plates 70
e the first time took in vast field sur
rounding the sun.
= 1t is no mere story for the diversion
of a small scientific coterie that result
ed from the methodical eclipse wor
OF astronomers to-day, but one deepl
o interviewer in the scientific and tn
4 material progress Of the new century
q To advance terrestrial chemistry an
!. physics. the solar chemistry an
i physics must reveal their secrets, an
/. the solar study.even in the rare eclips'
n must contribute in no small measure
Ie the broadening Of human thought an
Ie finally to the strength and happines
of human action.