The semi-weekly messenger., 1900-06-01

washington, May 28.-Advices re-
ceived at the naval observatory from
its agents in various points in the
south, show that favorable weather
prevailed for observing the suns
eclipse today: that the contact occurred
very close to schedule time and that
the programme arranged was carried
out without hitch.
Denver, Col, May 2S.-Professor A
H Howe, in the Chamberlain observa-
tory, while watching for the eclipse,
made one of the most important obser-
vatiOns Of the year, the re-discovery of
the planet Eros. This tiny planet,
which was discovered only two years
ago at the Berlin observatory, has been
looked for since last September, the
time when, according to calculations,
it should emerge from behind the sun.
IDEAL WEATHER AT THE SOUTH.
Atlanta, Ga, May 2S.-In every
section of the southeastern states today
to which the belt of totality of the
suns eclipse extended, the weather
was ideal for the observation of this
remarkable phenomenon.
In the southern portion of Alabama,
there was some haziness. but other
than this the astronomers and scien-
lists who located their observatories
in North and South Carolina, Georgia,
Alabama and Louisiana report that
the weather could not have been more
auspiciOus for the study of the suns
eclipse, and to secure splendid photo
graphs of the details attending the
passage of the great orbs.
From the many stations of obs IVA
hi T-TNE hx- 7frr1 sEc- 4
scientific and private parties the re-
ports indicate that the taking of sci
entific data was entirely successful.
The two most notable features of the
day were the discovery by Professor
Lord. of the Ohio state university,
who believes he obtained results that
tend to prove that the mysterious mat
ter which forms the corona is to be
found also in the solar prOminences and
the existence of protubetances on the
sun as reported by Professor Picker
ing, OF Harvard. From the stand
point of grandeur the spectacle was
aWe-inspiring. The movements of the
heavenly bodies were rapid. Not over
five seconds elapsed from the time of
the first contact until the great shadow
was seen sweeping over the earth from
the southwest. Just as the moon COW
cred the face of the sun Mercury came
into prominence.
What constitutes the gaseous ele-
ment surrounding the sun, however,
has not been determined and if any
astronomer has solved this probler
has not committed himself tonight.
SPLENDID SUCCESS AT BARNES
WILLIE AND GRIFFIN.
The United States naval observatory
achieved splendid success at both
Barresville and Griffin. Professor Up
degraff, who directed the work at the
government station at Barnesville.
says:
The weather and other conditions
were good. There was no accident or
delay. We secured twenty photographs
on the five cameras mounted on the
polar axis, and four photographs with
the large photO-heliOgraph The trans
parency of the sky was good and the
steadiness of the air was excellent. In
fact, it was unusually good. We feel,
as far as we can tell at this time, that
the observations were entirely success
full
The work of Professor H. c. Lord,
of the state university of Ohio, in
which considerable interest has been
centered, was successfully carried out.
In his Spectroscopic observations and
visual work he believes he has obtain
ed results that tend to prove that the
mysterious matter which forms the
corona is to be found also in the solar
prominences. a fact hitherto unknown
and regarded as of great Importance
by the astronomers.
The accuracy of the results at Crit
fin will not be known for some time, as
the photograph plates will not be de-
VelOped at present. a few minutes be-
fore totality a cloud drifted across the
suns face and cut off good portion
of the light.
DR. Brown, the director of the obser-
vations, thinks there was a very slight
cutting off of the light on this account,
white other observers say there was no
material interference.
Where the Massachusetts institute
OF technology made observations. at
Washington, Ga, the weather was
perfect. Time of totality was l minute
and 25.2 seconds. The magnetnometer
showed no disturbance in magnetic
decliration. Seven sketches were mace
Of the corona
Professor w. H. Pickering. at the
head of Harvard's expedition, furnlsn-
ed the following statement:
We secured thirty-six plates with
intra- -mercurial apparatus and thirty
four with thirteen other cameras alded
by nineteen assistants. The plates
will be developed in Cambridge op-
seryatory. The corona resembled that
of the 1889 eclipse. Two large solar pro-
tuberances were noted. Venus and Mer-
curry were conspicuous. The inner cor
ona was visible in the telescope several
seconds after totality was over. There
was no dark band around the moons
limb during the partial phase, and no
detail on the moon during totality."
Professor W. W. Campbell astrono-
mar-in-chief. states: "Forty-two pho
tographs were secured. The corona had
somewhat the appearance Of the corona
of 1898 as observed in India. Two prom
inAnt streamers extended TO the west
near the line of the solar equator to a
distance equal to about five or six
diameters of the sun, several million
miles. One prominent streamer to the
for was traced to equal four diameters
of the sun. The corresponding stream
er south of the equator was very much
less prominent. The shadow pands
were observed easily at the peglnhns
and ending Of totality. The ecilpse oc-
anticipated
From Siloam Ga, Professor Charles