Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-11-23
ECLIPSE NEXT FRIDAY.

A phenomenon which will be seen by
quite a few, says an exchange, will be
the total eclipse Of the moon late in
the evening Of the 26th of this month.
The eclipse will begin about half-past
eleven o'clock and the shadow will not
entirely leave the surface Of that body
until early In the morning Of the 9th.
During the time the shadow Is on the
moon the eclipse will reach a point
where II will be total. For this reason
II Is somewhat unfortunate that the
hour Is so unreasonable, for while par
tial eclipse Of the moon are sight seen
about twice year by all the inhabit-
ants of the earth, the total eclipse Is
"a phenomenon not to be seen as rule
more than once every two or three
years by the inhabitants Of any partic-
ular portion OF the earth's surface.
There Is and has always been some
thing peculiarly uncanny and fascinat-
ing about an eclipse Of the moon, es-
pecially IL 1t be a total one. In the
times when the ancients saw the phe-
nomenon year after year and had no
inkling Of what caused II, there were
all kinds of ridiculous reasons ascrib-
ed as to why that strange shadow
should pass across the face of the
heavenly body. The appearance was
watched with the utmost interest by
all these people and especially by the
philosophers who imagined that In 1t
they saw divine revelations Of days
that were coming, and forecasts Of i'm
portant events concerning the differ
ent kingdoms.
Since the development Of the study
of astronomy, when science, with her
enlightening finger, has pointed out to
her followers the true cause Of the
phenomenon, and with 1t the intricate
and mysterious system upon which the
universe moves, the eclipse Of the moon
has not lost in that peculiar attrac-
ton which characterized 1t In the old
en- times.
AS Is well known to all who have
delved into even the upper layer Of the
science which describes the movements
Of the universe, the eclipse Of the moon
Is nothing more or less than the shad-
ow Of the earth, which Is cast upon the
lunary when the terrestrial giobe Is just
between the sun and the moon. Such
a position occurs only at rare intervals
In the movements Of these bodies, but
the system Is so accurate, and so in
fallible, that the complex movements
Of both the moon and the earth can be
calculated and scheduled down to the
last fraction Of second, and those
who have studied the matter can pre-
dict for years ahead just the exact sec
ond when the shadow will touch upon
the round orb Of the moon.
BY a consideration Of the cause Of
the eclipse and the relative positions
of the three bodies, and also the cause
Of the different phases Of the moon,
which are caused by the revolution of
the moon around the earth, 1t is seen
that an eclipse Of the moon, whether
total or partial, can occur only when
the moon Is full, for 1t Is only at this
phase that the three bodies can come
into q straight line. The fact that
there Is not total eclipse Of the moon
at every full moon Is explained by the
complicated motion Of that body in go
ing from one side to the other OF the
spot at which the eclipse may occur.
This is the same motion which makes
the moon rise earlier In winter than In
summer. and which makes its point Of
rising vary during the different sea-
sons Of the year.
The eclipse which will be visible at
this place late Friday night and early
Saturday morning will be total one.
For short length Of time the shadow
Of the earth will entirely cover the sur
face Of the moon, and the luminary
will be observed as dull red or
brownish spot in the midnight heavens.
The eclipse Is something out Of the
ordinary, and In most observers 1t
gives rise to that chilly feeling Of the
sublime which cannot be explained. To
see the chief luminary of the night
shining brilliantly In the heavens,
lighting the grounds almost as bright
as the morning sun, and shining too,
by light reflected from the center Of
this planetary globe, Is something
which, while not unattractive, Is so
often seen that 1t draws no comment.
To watch this luminary while dark
shadow slowly but surely steals across
It's face, beginning almost imperceptt-
bly, on the edge, until 1t finally covers
the whole surface, and to think also
that this shadow is caused by the vast
body Of matter upon which the OBJ
server stands, Ia something which can
not fail to cause thoughts Of more
or less serious nature to pass through
ones thoughts.
The eclipse Of the moon has always
been watched with interest by all the
astronomers, both Of this and the an
cient times. To the modern observer
1t possesses more than usual interest.
The eclipse Is one Of the most easily
given proofs Of the fact that the earth
is round, since the shadow may be OBJ
served two or three times a year.
Other facts Of keen astronomical in
terGst surround the eclipse, and It's
coming Is always Of Importance TO the
astronomers.