San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-09-09
But Scientists Are Assem-
bled In Small Area
r. in Mexico. f
VILE BECOME DARK
At 2:l7 P. M. Shadow
Will Begin to Creep
!, Across Suns Face.


occur a rare celestial phenomenon
predicted by scientists at least one
hundred years ago and which is now
the center of interest to scientist and
|layman. While arousing fear of i'm
pending supernatural disasters in the
minds of the untutored, it will be
regarded by enlightened people as
merely an unusual manifestation OF
the mathematical exactness of the
laws of the universe and a rare OPP
portunity to study certain phases OF
science.
At that minute, a dark disk will
begin to creep over the sun. As the
minutes pass the sun will be gradual
/ " blotted out until only IL per cent
| of. the suns surface will be visible
| in the form of a crescent. The sun
will take on the appearance of an
Exceedingly bright new moon. After
3 :35 o'clock, the time of the great
est observation when IS per cent of
1.-THE suns surface is blotted from the
| view of those in San Antonio, the
crescent of light will gradually become
larger and at 4 :45 O'Clock the disk
Of the intervening moon will no
longer be between the sun and the
earth and the sun will shine with all
Of its former brightness.
Indications are that San Antonians
will have an unobstructed view of
the eclipse since reports from wealth
err stations indicate that there will
be clear skies Monday afternoon.
Scores of astronomers in Mexico and
the lower part of California where
the eclipse will appear as totality,
are vitality interested in the weather
conditions that will prevail Monday
in. their respective localities. IL the
skies are overcast. thousands of dol
lars will have been spent in vain,
and an opportunity will be lost that
will not present itself again in
North America until every astronomer
who is now in the narrow path which
will be followed by the moons shsd-
ow, will have long been in his
grave. tCt.
Despite the great observation of
the suns disk, smoked glasses will
be. necessary for one to view the
eclipse since the sun is so bright
Fthat though only small fraction of
its incandescent surface is exposed,
yet the eve would be dazzled., ,.., o..
The true wonders of the eclipse,
the flames Of light shooting hundreds
of thousands of miles from the sur
face of the sun, can be seen only by
observers in the narrow strip, 107
miles wide running through Mexico.
The corona will be apparent only in
this region of totally. This is the
path of the moons shadow as it
sweeps at the rate of over 1000 miles
an hour from west to east across
Mexico.
In this path, should there be a
distant horizon. the shadow may be
seen coming like a terrific thunder
storm. Some ten minutes before
darkness becomes apparent. Birds go
TO, roost. The temperature falls and
under right conditions, dew will APP
pear. When the intervening moon
completely covers the sun, it is then
that scientists have few precious
seconds to observe the corona, make
photographs that may be studied at
leisure, and make spectrums. With
in this short period, scores of astrono-
mers and other scientists now in
Mexico, hope to obtain sufficient
data to prove or disprove Einstein's
theory of relatively.
As the moon comes between the
earth and the sun, the quality as
well as the quantity Of the suns
light is changed. The light resembles
that Of calcium light rather than
that of the sun. Light shining
through the interstices in the foliage
of the trees, instead of making little
round spots on the ground will make
crescents, miniature images of the
partly eclipsed sun.
The total eclipse will begin at sun
rise in the Pacific Ocean directly
west Of Alaska. From sunrise TO
sunset, the shadow will travel east
ward and will end with the setting
of the sun south of Jamaica. Al
though the moon travels along its
orbit at the speed of 2100 miles an
hour, the shadow will be travelling
in the same direction as the rotation
of the earth. A point on the earth's
equator moves at the rate of 1910
miles an hour. Hence the shadow
would pass & point on the earth's !
equator at approximately half the
rate the shadow actually moves.
The moon, in common with the |
earth and all planets and satellites |
toSNo a SuduON
space. The mean distance of the |
shadow cast by the moon when it is |
between the earth and sun is 232, $50 |
miles. Since the mean distance of |
the moon from the earth is 23S,S0O |
miles, it is obvious that every time |
the moon interviewed between the sun |
and earth there would not be total |
eclipse every tine. When the shad- !
ow of the moon fails to reach the |
earth, we have what is known as
an annual eclipse. When this con-
dition prevails, there is an uneclipsed |
ring of light around the edge of the
moons disk.
Due TO the eccentricity of the
moons orbit, however, the moon may |
at times approach within 221.600 |
miles Of the earth. If at the time |
when the moon is between the sun |
and the earth, it is at a point on |
its orbit that is at a distance less
than the length of its shadow, then
a total eclipse occurs.
Among the scores of astronomers
who are now in Mexico waiting for
the outstanding astronomical event
of the year, is G. a. Duerler Jr., Of
San Antonio. Mr.. Duerler. an ANA
teur astronomer, will observe the
eclipse. not for scientific purposes,
but merely with the intent of enjoy
ing the experience.
One can easily imagine the terror
that the unusual phenomenon of an
eclipse would strike in the hearts
Of the primitive savage. The time !