The Washington herald., 1908-06-21

"Old SoT-to speak familiarly OF the
orb Of day-wiu present himself In eclipse
10 an observing and inquisitive public on
the 18th Of this month. 50 the skygazers
forecast
II VIII be an annular eclipse: that is,
the moon. on account Of its increased dis
tance from the earth, viii not quite cover
the sun. The part Of the suns disc thus
left exposed, In the line Of the central
eclipse. is called the annulus
But for all practical purposes the eclipse
may be considered total: tor the breadth
Of the annulus viii be only about one
fortieth OF the suns diameter
It is interesting 10 trace the central
line OF this eclipse from the time IL
strikes the earth until It leaves It The
axis Of the moons shadow first strikes
the earth far out in the Pacific Ocean.
about 2,4o0 miles southwest OF the City
Of Mexico. Thence It runs over the Pa
cidc Ocean, coming 10 the west coast Of
Mexico, crosses that country, and brings
the City Of Mexico almost exactly in the
central line. or annulus path.
Then, leaving the east coast Of Mexico
the shadow axis crosses the Gulf OF
Mexico. entering the United States on
the west coast OF Florida, near the city
Of Tampa. Crossing Central Florida, tho
shadow axis traverses the Atlantic Ocean.
and leaves the earth on the west coast OF
Africa in Upper Guinea
Traverses o,OOO-mile Path.
The shadow axis is three hours and
fifty minutes in making this journey, and
its path is nearly 5000 miles long. The
annulus path extends about forty miles
each rise in full eclipse; and where tho
shadow axis leaves the earth the sun Will
set in full eclipse. Between these points
there is another point where the eclipse
is central at noon. That is. the sun and
moon are both on the meridian. and the
observer at this point stands exactly in
the line OF the shadow axis. This IS the
most interesting Of all points in the path
OF the central eclipse
In the coming eclipse Of June o It hap
pens. as it so often happens. that the place
OF central eclipse at noon lies in the
ocean. Fortunately, in this eclipse, the
point Of central eclipse at noon is near
-
ers can go 10 these islands and have a
good place for observing the eclipse in
its central path with the sun and moon
near the meridian. Here the annulus Will
appear in its full splendor.
Total Eclipse High Up.
Since the annulus is caused by the
moon being more than the average dis
tance from the earth. there must be some
point on the line OF the shadow axis
where the moon will exactly cover the
sun, and since the apex Of the moons
shadow does not reach the earth. this
point will be between the earth and the
moon. OF course. this point VIII be at the
apex Of the moons shadow. There the
annuluS disappears.
Moves More Slowly in ApoEee.
Since the central liae of this eclipse runs
farther south than in the eclipse Of 1900.
II follows that the magnitude viii be
smaller for all places north Of the Gulf
of Mexico and the north boundary OF
Florida. But the duration viii be longer.
Why is this? The answer lies in the
fact that the moon IN the coming eclipse
will be near the apogee Of its orbit: that
is, the point farthest from the earth.
Hence the moons motion is slower.
AS this eclipse Will occur Sunday fore
noon. the sun and moon will be con-
spicuous guests IN the religious services
Of the day. Not since the eclipse Of Nay
2S 1850. has there been a total solar eclipse
the central path OF which touched any
part Of the United States. That eclipse
was Of deep interest to American as
tronomers, for the central path passed
through the southern part Of the United
States and was plainly visible 20 the
naked eye in this city. The shadow axis
the United States at the ex-
treme southern point OF Texas. crossed
the northern part of the Gulf OF Mexico.
including I'm the path Of the total eclipse
New Orleans. Mobile, Raleigh, and Nor
folk. Even President Mckinley took
enough interest in that eclipse to 60 to
Norfolk for the purpose OF observing IL