The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-16
ECLIPSE OBSERVATIONS
PRELIMINARY REPORT OF THE
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION PARTY.
Interesting Features Noted, Though
the Light Operated UnfavorabIy
for study of Outer Corona.

WASHINGTON, Tune ia preliminary
account of the observations made at
Wadesboro, N. c., during the recent eclipse,
under the direction of the Smithsonian In
stitution has been prepared by c. c. Abb
bott. Of the institution. 1.-THE main object
of Investigation" says Mr.. Abbott. was
the corona. and of this, first, a photo
graphic study of the detailed structure of
the inner corona; with, second, a determi-
nation by the bolometer whether apprecia-
BILE heat reaches us from it. and. II posi-
BILE. an examination Of the form Of its spec
trum energy curve.
THE eclipse was notably not a dark one.
No second magnitude stars were observed
with the naked we. Most of the observers
saw only Mercury, though Venus was dis
tinguished by some, Swimming through the
trees. and Capella also was seen by a few.
The high degree of illumination operated
unfavorably in the study of the outer coro-
ma. The fall of temperature and rising
breeze were distinctly noticeable before to-
tality. No change in direction of the wind
was noted. Shadow bands were seen. but
those observers who attempted to measure
their velocity found them too rapid and
VI my "OtA All iii
direction. yet there was notable unanimity
among independent observers as to their
size and distance a~part-about five inches.
1t was noticed that the birds were silent
during t~otality, but, true to their nature.
the English sparrows were last 10 be still
and first to begin their discussion of the
eclipse after return of the light.
1.-THE attention of all visual observers
was caught by the equatorial streamers.
Father Woodman described the appearance
as like a mother-of-pearl, and different OBJ
servers differed on the color estimate. A
yellowlsh green tinge was noted by the
artist of the party, Mr.. Child. while to
others the light was straw-colored, or
golden. The visual telescope observations
of the writer gave little indication of the
finely divided structure of the inner corona
which he had noted at Pixies Peak during
the eclipse of 1873. Structure, to be sure,
was evident, but not in minute subdivi-
sions, as had been then seen. One remark
able prominence was seen. as well as sew
eral smaller ones, but the coropial stream
ers did not give to visual observers the i'm
preston of being connected in any way
with the prominences, nor to the writer
was the telescope coronal structure the
'Ogfval' structure of LAS connected with
them.
A observers reported a successful car
rytng out of the programme. The greatest
interest centered in the direct corona mega
tives taken with the 135-foot telescope.
Mr.. Smilhe exposed six 30x30 plates during
totality, with times ranging from one-half
to sixteen seconds. All these negatives
have not yet been developed. Those of one
half second, two seconds and four seconds
however. and they give clear indication of
the crossing. and recrossing of filaments,
like the appearance of a field of grain bend
ing in the wind. The prominences and po-
lar SfrRamQrS lnnQar in 1mnOSfnR r12En1-
tude and detail.
Mr.. Abbott, with the aid of Mr.. Menden-
hall. detected the heat of the corona, prob
ably for the first time. For five minutes
before second contact the bolometer was
successfully exposed to the region of sky
close to the narrowing crescent of the sun,
where the corona was shortly TO appear.
Experiments showed that the corona was
actually cooler than the gray card which
had been. used at the room temperature.
Next the black surface of the moon was
allowed to radiate on the m The
important result was that the corona gave
a positive indication of heat, as compared
with the moon. This heat. though certain.
was. however, too slight to be subdivided
by the dispersion of the prism, with the
means at hand.
corona show from three to four solar diam
tiers extension On the longest streamers.
The equatorial wings assume more and
more hairlike proportions as they recede
from the sun, and are finally lost in an
equally Illuminated sky. without having
given any indication of actually coming to
an end.
N attempt to clearly examine the
plates taken for intramercurial planets has
yet been possible. 1t is, however, doubtful
IL any faint objects will be found In con-
sideration of the considerable sky ilumi-
nation during totally. However. Pleione
and many faint stars in the Pleiades were
plainly seen on one of the plates. On the
whole the expedition may fairly be consid-
cred as very satisfactory in its results