The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-20
The Sun Will Rise Here in
Partial Eclipse.
TOTAL AT 8:49 O'CLOCK
The Eclipse Lasts For Nearly Three
Hours
WILL Be TOTAL ONE MINUTE AND A HALF
The Path Gf the Totally is Only From % t
IS Miles Wide. II May be Seen to
Splendid Advantage From
Raleigh.

Raleigh.
Tomorrow week is the day for the
total eclipse of the sun.
Ii will be the greatest phenomenon
that has been witnessed here in many
wears. or that will be seen in many
wears to come.
TO be exact. eleven years have pass
ed since the last total eclipse of the
sun in this country; eighteen years
more are to pass before the next; con-
sequently the total eclipse of the sun.
visible in the United States on the
2Sth of the present month being the
only event of its kind within a period
of more than quarter of century.
is to be regarded as of great lmpor-
lance.
Astronomers all over the country
are anXiously looking forward 10 it
and making extensive preparations
for it. United States weather obser-
vers also are preparing for a com
plete record of it.
The Weather Bureau here. for in
stance. will take observations as to
meteorological conditions during the
eclipse. at intervals of Is minutes.
from O'Clock in the morning to II
noon These observations comprise
readings of the regular instruments
for the purpose of ascertaining what
changes occur in pressure and tenn
perature The wind direction and We
lOcitv. also the direction and motion
of all kinds of clouds visible. are re-
corded as carefully as possible. Also
observers will note accurately all cir
cumstances attending the progress of
the eclipse.
The observations will probably indi-
cate fall in temperature and increase
in relative humidity: a backing of the
wind for a time followed by veer-
ing: possibly small change in the
pressure. if it can he distinguished
from the diurna range and from the
local cyclonic movements.
Thus both eve observations and au-
tefAsstic recording Instruments will
be used.
Observations are commenced early
r"cause the sun rises already IN par
tial eclipse. although totalitv does
- heoin until $40 o'clock. 18th
meridian time. WI IN corresponds to
S:34K local time.
In making these observations Mr.
Won Hermann. the director Of 10
Weather Bureau here. has invited the
cooperation of about fifty observers
near the edges of the line of totalitv
for the purpose of studying the shad-
ow bands which are very peculiar
and little understood feature of a
total eclipse-visibIe only for a short
interval just before. and another short
interval Just after. the totalty be-
gins.
THE PATH OF TOTALLY.
The path OF totalitv is about -
miles wide beginning in the Pacific
ocean Just west of Mexico. There
the point of totally firsl touches our
earth. 1t then passes eastward across
Mexico. and entering the United
States near New Orleans. proceeds in
n northeastern direction until it
leaves the continent close to Norfolk
Va. Then it crosses the Atlantic.
touches Portugal. and afterwards
passes across northern Africa leaving
the earth finally near the northern
end of the Red Sea In this country
the cities of New Orleans. La: Mo
bile. Ala: Raleigh. y. C.. and Norfolk.
Va. are all on the totalitv path At
New Orleans the sun will he com
nletely covered at 80 a. m.. while at
Norfolk this will not happen until
$3.50 a. m. In New Orleans totality
will last IS seconds. and in Norfolk
102 seconds. At intermemidate places
both the time and duration of totalitv
viii fall between these extreme val
mes. For places nearer to New Or
leans than to Norfolk the numbers
will be nearer those given for New
Orleans and vice versa. In Raleigh.
for instance. totality will last about
100 seconds.
So far as the track of the eclipse
is concerned Raleigh. though slightly
10 the north Of the center of the
track of totality. is very favorabiv
located as will be seen from the above
table.