Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-05-04
MAY SKIES.
Tie Coming Eclipse Of the Sun-.Thc Planets
and Consultations.

The sun makes a somewhat unusual
addition to our program this month by
being in total eclipse on the 18th.
Unfortunately, we are not in a favor
able locality for viewing this always
interesting phenomenon. The inhabi-
tants of southern Asia and Africa, as
well rs Of Australia. Will see it in some
one of its phases, and as various ex-
petitions have been fitted out to visit
the places that are included in the path
Of tOtaity. we shall in all probability
get some fine photographs and possibly
hear of some new discoveries being.
made that will be Of interest to bpth-
amateur and professional. Fora. an
eclipses of the sun to occur. the moon
must actually come between the earth
and the sun. BY the movements0 the
moon 1t may so happen that the irmopn
completely hides the sun. and thus for
few moments produces what we CALI
a total eclipse. 81
This space of time is very limited; bur
It is of greatest value to the observers,
for rare and beautiful sights may be
seen. The solar pTomincnccS with the
peculiar character of their light, are
always of absorbing interest at the
TINE of an eclipse. Majestic indeed are
the proportions of some of those
mighty flames which leap from the
surface Of the sun: Yet these flames
Kicker as do our terrestrial flames
when they are allowed time compare
Die TO their gigantic dimensions. The
magnitude of the changes could not be
less than many thousands of miles, and
me actual velocity with which such
masses move is often not less than 100
miles a second.
still more violent are the solar con-
WILSON'S which some observers have
ueen 50 fortunate as to behold, when
from the suns surface. as from
mighty furnace. vast incandcsccnt
MISSES are projected upward. AL in
uoations seem to point to the surface
VI the sun as the scat of the most
'rlghtful storms and tempests. in
which the winds sweep along incandcs-
cent vapors.
oh the Sd, the day Of the full moon,
'"e SHADOW of the earth is so nearly
..eht the name of lunar appulsc.
me beautiful clear disk of our satellite
Wi not have blemish, however. and
"e snail sn in all its grandeur tax
ins up. soon after the suns glow has
,"SdPpealed. her nightly task of sweep
us 'iear the heavens from east to
10y as she passes high overhead. On
~, ii'h we shall have the phase OF
~ ~ fuartering, while the 18th will
'flnS Us new moon, whose first quar-
.,iiiis VIII be on the 25th. in time to see
'c grass growing in the meadows and
~ mar the birds singing on every tree.
Nv, NY cPh]unctions in which moon and
w.. "etS take part begin on the 9Th,
wv Uranus followed on the Sth by
Jupiter and Saturn.
"" the 18th it will be time for Mer-
coy 10 nave call, and at almost the
Nc 'ine Venus will be likewise
nohored. On the Goth NeptIne and fine
Will a. 'heir closest for the month,
int Wars closes the record Of these
tbo hg exchanges of courtesieS on
tbos- vii mus we see in May that
bo,n. vents are fairly We'll distributed
Of the month. - 80 ''S' po' ''o'''
tho Spendid considerations Orion and
will NO. a.er Dog take leave in May, and
in ts "Vt make their appearance again
ter ~ 'eii.hs until early in the win
Be,oIsne reading brillants. Sirius.
sho,. and Rigel. may be seen for
part 80 uine after sunset in the early
vanisbas ,ne month, but they will have
And nee, long before the month ends.
the ne m with them will depart Aldebaran
conste,a. ,lohspicuous luminary in the
Tbe Thu a Of Taurus.
us which magnitude star. long with
month 81 remain throughout the
are frocyon of the constellation