The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-05-31

(By DIR. G. s. Brainin of the Column
bia University Observatory Starff.)
The premier astronomic attraction
for the month of June is the total So
lar eclipse, which will take place on
Saturday the eighth. The phenom-
enon will be visible along narrow
strip of territory, not over seventy
miles wide, running from Aberdeen,
Washington, diagonally across the
country to Orlando, Florida. Some
of the other cities and towns lying
on this path of totally are Baker
City, oregon; Pocatello, Idaho; Den
yer, Colorado; Garden City, Kansas;
Enid and Guthrie, Oklahoma; Jack
son, Mississippi and Grove Hill, Ala
bana. This list should give the
reader fair idea of the location of
the most favorable places from which
to observe the eclipse. Outside of
this narrow belt, everywhere in the
United States. and Canada the
eclipse will be~Seen only as a par
tfa1 eclipse, of greater or less de-
gree, according to the distance of the
observer from the belt.
The totality will begin at ass P. M.
at the extreme western end of the
line, where Pacific coast time is used
in the Rocky Mountain time States
the beginning will be after 5:12 in
the States where Central Standard
time is used the beginning of total
ity will be on or after $50, depend
ing on the observers location. The
totality itseif will last less than two
minutes; though, of course, it is pre-
coded and followed by the partial
eclipse phase such as will be seen ev-
erywhere. No one should miss the
opportunity presented for the first
time in many years.
THE SUMMER SOGSTTCE.
On June II we shall have the long
the Sun is highest in the sky and
sends the northern hemisphere the
greatest amount of heat. Judging
merely by the relative positions of
the Sun and Earth, this day is the
middle of the Summer. We have seen
the statement made that, astronom-
ically, June % marks the beginning
of Summer, but there does not seem
to be any logical reason for that.
OF course, it is true that June is
by no means the hottest month of
the year, for the maximum Of heat is
in August, but that is due to the GU
mulative effect of the heat received
day after day. Every day after
March 81 the daily income of heat
from the Sun is greater than the loss
by radiation at night, and each days
gain is a little greater than that ot
the preceding day. This continues
until June %, when the difference be-
tween incomes of heat and nightly
radiation is at a maximum. But this
does not make June % the hottest
day, for the days still continue long
Or than the nights, although by de-
creasing amounts A balance is
reached about August 1. On the
whole, therefore, this is the hottest
part Of the year; local conditions
tend to modify this considerably but
If an average is struck over many
years, it will be found that the astro.
nomic weather prediction is correct
even if it cannot be relied upon fol
any particular year.
THE PLANETS AND STARS.
Venus is morning star THU
month and will not make her appear
ance on our monthly map for SOM
time to come. But the showing TO
ID hON ny ally I4GILS d DOOT OhO
for we have both Mars and Saturn
which both make fine objects of OBJ
servation either with or without
telescope, and Neptune, which cal
hardly be seen through any but tn
most powerful instruments. Mars
about half way between the star
Regulus and Spica- He 4 well term
ed the rudy planet, for he shine
with light which is distinctly red
dish in hue. Saturn is further to tn
west, between Regulus and Poflux
We must admit that we are tempt
ed each month to write that tina
month surely has the finest display Q
stars that the heavens can produce
ard we can hardly rcfrai= from ma
king the statement now. For it is
fine sky. We sorely miss Orion fror
our map, but are reconciled to tn
loss as we view the vast expanse @
starry field from east to west an
from north to south. Everywhere ar
the glittering jewels of wonderful hu
set in the deepest black.
Down toward the western horizo
is Procyon, the Lesser Dog; and tn
Twins. Castor and Pollux In tn
northwest is capeIla pure whit
star Of exceptional brilliancy. Fun
ther up from the horizon is Regulul
and the aoEtzh isaaszts sHlE