The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-11-04
ASTRONOMERS ARE
 PREPARING FOR 1913 TOTAL SUN ECLIPSE

Denver, November s.-Astronomers throughout the country already are pre- pairing for the work of observing the total eclipse of the sun, which will oc- cur June S. 1918, and which will be visible in it's totality along eo-mile strip ex- tending across the United States from tho southwestern corner of the state or Washington on the Pacific coast to F1ors- day on the Atlantic. Astronomers consid- CT themselves unusually fortunate in their opportunity for observing this eclipse one Of seven visible in the United States during the present century, in that the center line of this 6o-nile strip passes within four miles Of the observatory at Denver university, where photographs of the corona of the sun will be taken with the aid of the great telescope which is equipped with a 20-inch lens.
 According to Dean Herbert A Howe. head of the department of astronomy at Denver university, this Is the first time that the path of total eclipse mas touched an observatory containing tele- scope of this size and astronomers are hopeful of learning more definitely the l composition of the suns corona, which | appears as a great glow around the sun l when the solar body Is obscured entire l iy by the moon.
 "rhe altitude of the Rocky mountain
 region is particularly favorable to ob-
 servations" said Dean Howe, "and as- tronomers from all parts of the United
 States are preparing to make observa-
 tions in this vicinity. Because of the moisture in tho air of the Pacific coast
 as well as the low altitude there and
 at points east of Colorado, thes Rocky can be made"
 place where satisfactory observations mountain region Is virtually the only ! Prof Edwin B. Frost, director Of the Yerkes observatory of the University of Chicago already has made arrange ments to use the facilities of Denver university for making his observations, and now Is constructing special apparatus to be used in connection with the tele-
 scopic equipment here.
 To guard against unfavorable weather
 conditions here, another expedition from
 the Yerks observatory will be stationed at Green River, Wyo., which also is near the center line Of the path of the eclipse. There will not be another total
 eclipse visible in the United States until 1945.
 TWO hours, 15 minutes and 21.5 seconds I will elapse from the time the moon first i interyenes between the sun and the earth aud the sun will be totally obscured for d period of Ss.7 seconds. It is during this brief period of less than a minute
 and a half that the astronomers will dc their most important work. Photo
 graphs will be taken of the corona and of the spectrum as well as the promi- ncnces of the sun. These prominences, il has been established. are projections oi lincandescent hydrogen extending mill lions of miles into space and which ap- pears as a brilliant scarlet flame when the sun is obscured. The composition
 of the corona is matter of conjecture among astronomers.
 The corona as well as the prominences Dean Howe explained, should be visible
 to the naked eye to persons within the 60-nile belt of totality and should be
 seen to advantage with the use of an or
 dinary field Or opera glass.
 Although the eclipse will be total in
 tho narrow belt extending from Washing
 ton to Florida, partial eclipse will be visible throughout the country. The United States Is virtually the only place tho total eclipse will be visible.
 Dean Howe is preparing to take teie-