The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1900-01-19

of the city of Norfolk, will be able
to continue their observations for
one hundred and five seconds.
In order that the best results may
be obtained from observations, par
ties should be divided and placed
under the direction of some person
competent to advise. Then each
member should be given some duty
to perform. To one or two of the
most clear headed should be as
signed the camera work Time
pieces and barometers should be
placed in good hands. Another
should handle the thermometer,
that the temperature of the air and
soil should be taken. Those of an
artistic turn of mind should be sup
piled with material on which to re-
cord their impressions, cardboard
and pads of drawing paper upon
which have been laid down black
disks. Above all, lanterns should
not be forgotten, for, when the
sepulchral gloom has fallen, light
will be necessary.
Scientific Importance.
While the occasion will be most
interesting one to all who are able
to witness the phenomenon to as,
trOnomers the event will be of the
utmost Importance, as there are sew
eral questions that they hope to be
able to answer after they have made
their next observations. One of the
most important problems relates to
the composition and arrangement of
the various layers Of vapOr and dust
that envelope the sun with an at
mosphere. Another relates to the
existence and position of what is
sometimes called the reversing
layer"
In the ordinary spectrum of the
sun the lines are black instead of
bright. Laboratory experiments
have shown that if behind a mass of
the incandescent vapor of sub
stance some other source of light be
placed, precisely this effect will
be obtained; whereas, if only the
light of the vapor itself enters the
spectroscope the lines will be bright.
1t has been thought probable, there
fore, that the dark lines of the solar
spectrum are due to the fact that
the masses of vapOr which produce
them have behind them the in
tensely brilliant light-giving photos
phere.
At present there is some little diff
ference of opinion as to the position
of the vapors which reverse the
lines, and this is another question
that may be settled in May. Pro-
lessor Young of Princeton has long
held that there is a special stratum
of gas or mixed gases, which he
calls the reversing layer"
He places this down next the
philosophers, under both the
chromosphere and corona. Pro-
lessor Young tells of the bright
flash that has frightened the dark
lines in his spectroscope and
many persons will watch for
and attempt to photograph this flash,
while the followers of Sir Norman
Lockyer hope to obtain a substantial
confederation of his views on this
point about the qualification of
gases, and of his belief that many of
the substances which we consider
elementary are complex. and are
ASSOCIATED by the suns intense heat
into more simple ones.
Uses of Photography.
From this it may be seen that
photography is to play un important
part in this scientific observation of
the next eclipse. To accomplish
this, large parties will be formed
and several such delegations have
already been arranged to come to
this country from Europe. This will
no. be entirely necessary, however,
for, while there will be many excel
lent points in the United States
from whi,h the eclipse may be wit
messed, this country will not have a
monopoly upon the exhibition. On
May 2S the eclipse will be total
along path extending from a point
near the southern end of Lower Cali
fornia, across Mexico and the
United States, out across the At
lar tie, where It will twice cut the
path Of ocean travel, over Portugal,
Spain. Algiers and Egypt. Outside
of this path the eclipse will be more
or less partial to observers from the
North Pole 70 the Amazon, and from
the central Pacific Ocean to the Red
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