The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-03-07
Total Eclipse i'll May.

AZ. The naval observatory h.s asked d
soeGsess for 90 appropriation Of s. 900
Sos the purpose OF studying aud observ
log tho total solar eclipse Of May 2S
usxs. pAouomeoon OF special interss, TO
America. as IL 10 the first one that will
Be visible generally 10 this country
since 1878. sbe ouly exception being
the eclipse Of 1899. visible from the
vsss sosss Of OaIiforois up into Mani
toba. The eclipse next sp,iog 10 visible
10 harrow lioe OF belt extending from
Norfolk. We. 10 . generally southwest.
esly direction through Texas and
Mexico. The duration Of soialisy at
Norfolk y about . minute and half
sNd the time dimioishes until New
Oslssas. where II 10 only about .
oiouss sod twelve seoouds
Preparations foe obssrvioq this
eclipse vsre begun three years ago By
che vssthsr bureau. which gathered
sxteasivs data sonssssiog the oloudi.
ssss ssd general conditions Of The
! ueashss on May % 10 the regions over
ebish sbs eclipse will bs total. Their
sssslss, recently Published. chow that
ehs test posisioos for observioR the
selspss. whsss they will be the creates.
probability Of clear westher. are 10
Sossb Csrolios. Nor,bero Gsorgis and
Alsbsns Bot ip order 20 secure q
essssiesy. stations will be occupied oil
aless the line Of ,o,aIity.
Az che coming eclipse the vbserva
oosy WiIl utiliss Instruments Of great
vslss Zoe the Siudy Of THE peculiar
phssomsss Rirst, the observation of
sls precise time ss which the contacts
oe the moon sske place. 10 order to 6x
0sssissly ice position 10 The heavens
sslssivsly 10 the suo, which oaa bo
doss wish ususoal soerasoy only q, the
tine Of solar eclipse The second
pssposs will bs to study With photo.
graphic isssrumsass snd The spectre.
sseps che structure and composition Of
tAs sea's ssrrossdiegs This latter
1sld 70 The oss which possesses suob
sbsosbiag popular isssrsss. aud tbs 40
Soos photographic Losses Of the obssrss
sssy will give large Photographs, which
will sk0W the 6oess detail OF the
sssoss Smaller instruments, how
ever. eth lsnsss Of tho Aasss sorkms
eAip. vii b used TO phoiosrsh the
Ujdsss exssssioss Of The ooroos.
8>asioss vill bass Co be chosen come
ias 10 sdvsoss OF che eclipse, asd the
sslsssopss pouossd snd adjusted to be
10 sesdissss for The iepostsss eomsos
The task OF uoustiog ths telescopes
tessy fsss loos 90 - TO point ss .
dsoaiss rsgioa Of shs sty q the presis,
ooesss Of sioe. and that the momeo,
~ vhish the SEQ sill bs 10 position to
ssad its rays shroogh shs long eaovss
sabs whish vill COS ous shs stray light
Of the stmosphsrs. 10 20 light tssk, and
yss 70 bss been suceessfally seoom plish
u % several expeditions BY the eclipse
parties Of the Lick observatory. The
observatory hss 10 time past sent on,
eclipse psrsios to disisnt psrts Of The
world, the last excessive expedition
bsisg 10 1883. tn The Carolios islsods,
- tss Sossh Psei6e. Of which the
pssssss ssssososiesl director Of tho
observatory. Prof 8. j. Brown, vas
. member. This eclipse. whose dura
sies vss uosssslly long, vss visible .,
oeIy too saall dots Of land 10 the
Pssioe oeeso. the rest of i.s eo,ire
esssk psssiss over the vs,sry wss.e
Previous 70 that 10 1878. several
eevsrument parties occupied positions
90 The loog lice Of tosslity sxtsodiuR
iron love 20 the Psei6e oosss. especial.
" 10 the high Rocky mouossios whore
the s'uosphsrs vss light sod trsosps.
ssot.
Alsbcssh the proposed appropriation
ef %. 900 seems ludicrously inadequate
ssd 70 much less than those given 10
former ,imee. the convenience and
soeessibility Of tho stations aud the fac,
that the observatory already possesses
nsoy valuable Instruments expiaiu
vby such . relatively email smouu,
will bs productive Of much good. pro.
y.ded the expedition 10 successfui.-
New York Tribaoe
NDs~atA~ok MoK:ul~ -- -