The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-28
THE ASTRONOMERS READY
Telescopes Adjusted for the Eclipse
at Wadesb0ro, N. c.
The Huge Instruments Make the
Scene of Observation Look Like n
Fort Filled With ArtIIlery-Smith-
scninn, Princeton. Ycrkcs, and
British Scientists ON the Ground.

WADESBORO, N. c.. May 27.-Of ali
the places within the track of the eclipse
there is none where so many men oi
science have gathered as here. Likewise
there is none where the preparations for
observation are so elaborate Prof.. Hale
of the Yerkes Observatory. said today that
never before in the history Of the study
of eclipses were preparations for observ-
| ing every detail OF the phenomenon any
| thing like on SO large a scale as those
| that have been made Eare. They are conf
plete tonight, even t. the smallest particu-
lar. OF the four great groups Of observers
posted here, the Smithsonian, the Prince
ton University. the Yerkes Observatory.
and the British Astronomical Association.
every man is at his post, and every one
Of the dozen or so fixed instruments is
trained and adjusted.
All the chronometers have been syn
chronized with Washington and set to the
minutest shade of exactness Tonight they
will be tried again and set by observations
OF the stars. The systems OF signaling
and timekeeping have been arranged and
rehearsed time and time again. The exact
moment of the advent Of the eclipse and
its various phases has been calculated. At
7:36:1O Eastern standard time 1t will
begin.
The first contact" is what the astrono-
mers call 1t. At S:45:24 the second con-
tact, or the beginning of total observation
of the suns surface by the intervening
body of the moon will begin. AT 8:46:56
this total covering will end and narrow
thread of crescent-shaped light will come
on the suns rim. At 10:o5:i3 the last
trace OF the shadow will be gone.
and the show will be over. That is the
way the astronomers have figured 1t out
The eastern side of the hills on which
this town stands has from a distance the
general appearance of being fortified. 1t
bristles with astronomical artillery. The
Smithsonian gun, with its fiye-foot bore
and barrel 135 feet long. stretched out
horizontally and about five feet from the
ground. looks as though it ought to be
able to hurl earthquakes crashing against
the defenses of the moon. Then close be-
side it is a similar piece OF scientific ord
nance of the Yerkes Observatory, sixty
two feet long. From these monsters the |
weapons range all the way down through |
all grades of telescopes, big and little, to |
field glasses and opera glasses.
The rage for optical instruments start |
ed by the scientists has fairly swept the !
town and everything in the shape Of
tube with lens in it is in demand. Old
spy glasses that have lain in dusty ncoks
ever since the days of war are brought out
and FURNISHED UP.
In addition to the fact that it is we'll
within the fifty-niile belt of total eclipse,
there are other reasons why Wadesboro
was selected by the astronomers for their
observations. In the first place, its alti-
tude gave promise Of favorable atmos-
nh eric -Iop rruiu he sit
Of the town Itself is peculiarly favorable.
1t is built on a little bunch OF hills which
are in the centre of a vast amphitheatr.
Of beautiful undulating country that
sweeps away to horizon so distant that
the mountains that border 1t seem liter
ally to melt away into the mists Of the
sky All this undoubtedly had its weight
in the choice of wadesboro by SO many
prominent groups OF scientists.