The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1904-07-08
ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.
oBsCURATIoN NEXT YEAR MAY
SHOW NEW PLANET.
Celestial Body That Affects Orbit of
Mercury Believed to Be in Ex-
istence, Says Director of
Lick Observatory.

The total eclipse of the sun August
30, 1905, will be observed by astronomers
with exceeding interest, for observa-
uons then taken may help to solve some
questions about which there has been
much speculation. The shadow path of
the eclipse will make the necessary sci
entific work Of observation comparative
ly easy.
This path begins at sunrise south of
Hudson's bay, enters the Atlantic ocean
short distance north of Newfoundland,
crosses northeastern Spain, northeast
ern Algiers, and northern Tunis, passes
centrally over Assuan on the Nile, and
ends at sunset in southeastern Arabia.
The durations on the coast of Labrador,
in Spain, and at Assuan are two and a
half, three and three-fourths and two
and three-fifths minutes, respectively.
In connection with this eclipse Prof.
w. w. Campbell. director OF the Lick OBJ
servatory, has published an interesting
paper on the facts already ascertained
regarding the sun during previous obser-
vations. To the modern astronomer our
sun is only one of the ordinary stars,
says Prof. Campbell, but IL is the only
star near enough to us to show a disk.
All other stars are as mathematical
points, even when the greatest telescope
magnifies them 5000 fold.
Our sun is likewise the only star bright
enough to supply metrical standards de-
manded In the study Of other stars. To
understand the other stars we must first
gain a complete knowledge of the sun,
and several of its most interesting por-
tons are invisible, except at times of
eclipse. II is for this reason that eclipse
expeditions are. dispatched at great ex-
pense OF time and money, to occupy sta
tions within the narrow shadow belts.
The difficulties of solar study are great,
the spherical body which we speak Of as
the sun is covered by a cloud composed
OF dense vapors Of the metallic elements.
This outer covering, formed Of different
layers. is thousands Of miles in thick
ness, and yet Is but an insignificant par,
OF the mass. Yet our knowledge Of the
sun Is based almost entirely upon study
OF these outlying vapors. II is a diff.
ficult matter to comprehend the condi-
tion OF any Of the suns outcasts; to de-
termine what the conditions within the
sun must be in order to create and main.
tain such shell is far more difficult.
Eclipse problems relate not only &C
the properties of the less massive por.
tions OF the sun, but also to the question
OF possible planets between the sun anC
Mercury. 1t is well known that New
tons law of gravitation has not yet fully
accounted for the motion of Mercury
The perihelion Of its orbit moves for
ward at least 40 minutes in centur!
more than theory calls for. The mos
plausible way Of accounting for this pro
gression has been the supposition tha
an undiscovered planet. or group OF small
planets. exists within the orbit of Mer
curry. The search for such objects ha.
been a well-defined eclipse problem; tn,
sunlit sky prevents effective search b,
everyday methods. No such bodies hav,
been detected, however, up to the pres
ent time
The eclipse Of August 90, 1905, will oc
cur when the earth is seven degree
from the plane of the solar equator. 1t
to be hoped that observing parties well
equipped for the intramercurial search
will be located in Labrador, Spain. Tuni
and Egypt II clear weather prevails a
any of the four stations valuable result
may be secured. Should new planet b
observed at three such stations the enor
nous interest heightened by the fac
that its approximate orbit could be de
termined at once. If no planets are re
vealed the negative result would b
scarcely less valuable than positiv
, results. and the intramercurial ques
ton would cease to be pressing eclips
problem.