The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-06-07
Eclipse viii Begin at $500
p. NJ. in Topeka.
Meteorological Flora, However,
Fears a Cloudy Sky.
MAY Be CLEAR IN The WEST
Several TOpekans Going to
Lakin for Observations.
The Darkest Time in This City
Will Be at 6:2S.

In the deep, dark night following
mince pie suppers this week, the
astronomer doesn't dream that an ele-
plant is standing on him-he dreams
that it will be cloudy on Saturday
afternoon at the time of the eclipse.
s. d. Flora, local meteorologist. has
had some of those dreams. and he
knows. He dreams it with special
force, inasmuch as he is obliged to
make a prediction of cloudy weather
for tomorrow, which may or may not
overshadow the great show at the
hour it is scheduled to appear.
1.-The eclipse will begin to show in
Topeka at about 5:22 p. m. Saturday,
and will be at it's nearest approach to
totality at 6:2S. While the eclipse is
not to be total at this point, it will ex-
tend to- an obscuring of about SO
hundredths of the suns disc. At the
time it is at its height twilight will
prevail, and all that will be visible of
the sun will be a narrow crescent like
that of a new MOON Mr.. Flora said.
Use Smoked Glasses.
There is no place of observation
here from which the eclipse can be
viewed to special advantage" Mr..
Flora says. but anyone can prepare
smoked glasses with the aid of a
coal oil lamp"
Many phenomena are apparent in
a total eclipse that are not to be OBJ
served where the eclipse is only par
tial. The most wonderful of these is
the corona, from which a blaze of
light radiates as the eclipse passes.
The shadows passing along the earth,
the coming out of the stars to shine
for a few minutes, and then the sud-
den appearance of the sun again, are
among the things that are of interest
to the watchers.
The astronomer is enabled to get
spectrum analyses which give MIN a
clew to new knowledge regarding the
suns composition and density. 1t
makes possible observations on winds,
temperature, ETC., as affected by
ecIipse:.
Many Elaborate Preparations.
Astronomers have been getting their
instruments and putting them in po-
sition for the observations tomorrow
and inasmuch as a total eclipse Of the
sun is an occurrence that comes al
long intervals, extensive preparations
have been made for it's study, involv-
ing thousands of dollars of expense.
Astronomers are willing to- go hall
way around the earth and penetra-e
the wilds of Africa, if that is neces-
sary, to make their observations.
4 have this hopeful word about to-
n1orrOws weather" Mr.. Flora said to-
day. 1T is much more likely to be
clear out in the west part of the state
where the eclipse is to be total, thar
it is here. So, while we may have
clouds here at the hour of the event
it may still be clear out there"
otto b. Cutler of the Poehler Mer.
camille company, and w. r. Barrett
of the Bank of Topeka, are among the
Topeka people who expect to go tc
Lakin, Kan, to view the total eclipse
1t is rarely that an eclipse of the
magnitude of this one occurs, A sim.
liar eclipse fell on July 20, 1873, forty
years ago. and another one. of some.
thing like the magnitude of the one
tomorrow, occurred August I, 1869.