New-York tribune., 1901-05-18
TO OBSERVE THE ECLIPSE
AMERICAN ASTRONOMERS IN THE EAST
INDIES.
SOME OF THE WORK THEY PLAN TO DO
TO-DAY

The total eclipse Of the sun which occurs this
afternoon will have longer duration than
any similar phenomenon for many years. II the
weather permits satisfactory observations there
fore an almost unparalleled opportunity VIII be
afforded for studying certain problems concern
ing the suns activities and appendages. The
path of totality is nearly $50 miles wide. II
starts from the coast Of Madagascar, crosses
the Malay Archipelago very close to the equator
and then sweeps away somewhat southwark Of
an easterly course into the Pacific Ocean.
On some accounts the islands Of Sumatra.
Borneo and Celebes are more advantageously
situated than other sites for viewing the eclipse.
In that part Of the world totality will continue
from six and one-fourth 10 six and one-haf
minutes along the central line OF the track.
Moreover, this all important stage OF the per-
formance will occur at about noon, local time,
and the sun will be almost in the zenith. In
fact It will be about 20 degrees north OF the
zenith. This splendid elevation insures much
better view than one lower down. When OBJ
server looks diagonally through the earth's at
nospheres at a celestial object, instead OF al
most straight upward, the line Of vision extends
through a greater amount Of obscuring i'm
purity.
On the other hand. the region just mentioned
has its drawbacks. There are savage tribes IN
the interior of some OF the islands Of the group
And the weather is very uncertain In May. At
Padang on the west coast OF Sumatra, there
are only twenty-eight chances Of clear skies out
OF one hundred during the present month. The
prospect is somewhat better over toward Cele-
hes and also on Mauritius. the African
coast But the rather discouraging outlook has
kept a good many European astronomers home
who might otherwise have gone
America will be well represented on this oc-
casion in point OF numbers, no less than four
separate parties having gone 10 the East Indies.
One OF them includes delegation of six men
from the Naval Observatory. in Washington.
led by Professor A. n. Skinner. and astronomers
from Eve other institutions. The latter are DIR.
S A Mitchell. Of Columbia University; Profess
sor E. z Barnard, Of the Yerkes Observatory:
Dr. y E. Gilbert. of Johns Hopkins Dr. W. J.
Humphreys. OF the University OF virginia and
D- u n Curtis of the Leander Mccormick
Observatory A second party goes from the Pa
cihc Coast and is headed by Professor c D.
Perrine. Of the Lick Observatory. third gong
out under the auspices Of the Massachusetts IN
stitute Of Technology, consists OF Professor
Alfred e Burton, Professor George L. Hosmer'
Professor Harrison w. Smith and Professor
Gerard H Natthes. Finally. there is Professor
David p Todd. Of Amherst College. accom-
panied by his wife and daughter ana Percy VIII
Of the Newly Orh bOldiilCdi OoANN@4N- @--N~N
observers will be scattered about at numoer OF
stations the work of some calling for a post
near the central line Of totality, and that OF
others for one near the edge. Again, oistriou-
ton over a considerable area may render IL pos
sible for one man 10 enjoy favorable weather
when others are bothered by cloudiness
A variety OF undertakings have been projected
Professor Barnard VIII seek 10 make large
pho1oeraphs OF the solar corona, showing 'es
featherv structure. Others viii try the shecl
Of photographfn with lenses designed orislnally
for visual work only. Mr.. Littell. or tne Nasai
Observatory expects 10 make certain opserNd
tions with a grating spectroscope deslsheo u, 10
ascertain whether the corona rotates at eAaCHs
the same rate as the sun which IL envelopes Df'
Mitchell will use another grating spectroscopr'
DR.. Humphreys and Mr. Jewell plan 10 photo,
graph the spectrum OF the reversing layer,
and for that purpose viii be stationed near the
northern edge OF the eclipse track professor
Todd will operate his cameras automatically'
tecting the presence OF X rays in the sun. IL
possible one OF the most important investi-
cations planned for this occasion is TO be con-
Quoted by DR. Gilbert. He is 10 employ a polari-
scope in such a manner as TO ascertain whether
the light OF the corona is reflected or emitted
A device known as a Nicol prism viii be so man
ipuiated that il viii permit the rays 10 come
through IL they reflected from solo non
luminous particles I'm the corona, but VIII reduce
suppress them II they represent original briii-
fancy In the This experiment was sug-
MAStsd by Professor r. W. Wood. OF Wisconsin