Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-04-11
Partial Eclipse of the Sun Visible
in New England.
N"m'li Have 20 Get Tn E0rly in tho
Morning II You Want to See
1.-THE Planets and
Consultations.

|
and that OF the sun on the 18th. These
are of especial interest. not so much
for the spectacle presented which Is far
less Impressive than in other ecIinses
but for The peculiar conditions attending
them.
The eclipse Of the sun on the nth is
Il peculiar case--an eclipse which ia an.
nular at first, then total. and again m.
nuiar, as viewed from points along its
central path This peculiar condition Ia
due to the curvature of the Garth. Whom
ever the moon passes over the sun. 1.
wholly hides 1t when centrally placed.
If Its disc is larger han that of the sun:
this makes a total eclipse. II when cer
traly placed It's disc Is smaller than th.t
OF the sun. there will ho ring of sun
light surrounding the moon, thus maxi
ing an nnnu!ar eclipse. If the observer
is exactly AT the ver.ex of the shadow
| cast by the moon, the moon and sun
Will seem to lin of exactly the same size.
and the obscurIng Of the sun will be for
an instant only. If the observer is nearer
the moon than the vertcx Of its shadow.
the moon will seem to be larger than the
sun and the eclipse will be total lasting
while the moon moves over the excess of
! observer is farther from the moon than
the vertox OF It's shadow. the moon will
seem smaller than the sun. and the
eclipse will he annular. In this eclipse.
no account of the curvature of the earth.
the region which the moon shadow first
falls upon, is beyond the vertex: later
the region traverscd is within the YER
tex, and as the shadow leaves the earth
the shadow. The central line begins in the
northeastern part Of South America and
crosses the Atlantic ocean. Near the
island of Madeira 1t changes from an
nular TO total. and is total from crossing
the northwestern part of Spain. Becom-
ing annular again 1t crosses France, pass
in" very near Paris. and continues It's
course into Siberir. where il leaves tho
earth. Tho total phase will last but two
seconds at tho most. according TO tho
calculations published I'm the American
Enleneris There is an interesting dis
cr"pancN between the calculations Of the
American and French alnlanacs which il
Illustrates how n very slight difference in
the positions in the moon used in the
calculations may make q much larger
difference in the path and the duration
calculation the eclipse will be total in
Spain and last for six seconds: 1t will
still he total when passing near Paris.
lasting for two seconds, and not change
to annular until It crosses Belgium The
event will decide which Of these caIcula-
tons is the nearer. There is "A limit to
the accuracy with which even the most
refined calculations of modern astronomy
arc made.
New England is in the region of par
tai eclipse, which is north of the central
line. As seen here the northern part OF
the moon Will hide for a time the south
oir part of IA" sun. The sun rises at
about a. M on the 18th. At about 5:12
the moon will touch the suns edge and
cut off small portion OF the disc, tho
greatest segment being noted at o'clock
ard the moon leaving the edge of the sun
at about G45 a. NJ There will be no
approciable effect on the amount of light
received from the sun. Those who look
at the sun that morning al about 6
o'clock will Noire ihat a sinall segment
Is cut off NJ thc right odgc
TIE plane, Venus may be seen in the
east each morning before sunrise. its
lieht struggling Nron... the twilight 1t
Hth at 4:U5 -. ~.
Tho planet Jupiter rises on the first
at 20 p. m. and on the 3dth at 900 D.
m. 1t may, therefore. NE seen before mid
night. II is in tho southeast nearly %
degrees south of the equator In the
constellation Ophinchus The red star near
it Is Antares. on the first Jupiter begins
it's westward motion among the stars
yh, ),
The planet Saturn disappears from the |
evenne sky this month II is in the west, |
III the constellation Aries II sets on the
first NJ 81" p. N, and ON the 3oth mt
: 40 p m A. T. leaves ~ FOR "A time it's
rings are inclined % degrees. This inrina
ton Will 10 ore degree greater when the
planet Is again seen in the evening neAt
autumn.
Mercury. which has been conspicuous in |
the west after sunset during tho closing
days Of March, moves rapidly this month. |
a last glimpse may be obtained OF 1t
for few evenings between and '.l5 |
D. m, in the western twilight above the |
sunset point. 1t approaches the SUM- pass
Ing north Of it between earth and SUN. |
on the 18th, after that date rising before |
the sun each morning. On the 3Oth i; |
may be seen once more In the morning |
twilight On the morning of the asth 1t |
will he very near the brighter planet |
Venus. a field glass may perhaps show |
both planets ut the same time, Mt about |
4 20 a. m. If the sky is very clear.
The planet Uranus Is not in favorable |
position for observation. il is In the con- |
stella,ion sagittarius, rising on the first
at 2:45 a. m, on TIE 10th at $50 a. IN. |
1t Is 80 degrees from the sun on the .'rd. |
Neptune. in the opposite constellation
Cicn.ini, is high in the sky each evening.
On the first the telescope should be point
ed 10 right ascension hours 81 minutes.
declflation north, y degrees, 16 minutes.
The planet ceases to move westward
among the stars on the first and Is ex-
actly 80 degrees east Of the sun on the
18th. 1t sets on the first AT 9;O6 Il. m, on
the 30th at 1910 n. m.
Mars Is In the evening sky, moving
rapidly among the stars and diminishing
In brightness. In the course of tho month
II is in Gemini. crossing half the area in.
cluded in that star group. On the Goth
tered Eta In that CONSERVATION. 1t IL now
fainter than Aldebaran. Observers may be
Interested this month In comparing its
brightness with Castor ana Polux.
The April inoon is full on the first This
II the full moon next following the
verual equinox. which regulates the Jew
ish and Christian festivals In the coolest
AZ ~.