New Britain herald., 1925-01-19
THE TOTAL ECLIPSE IN NEW BRITAIN

I'NF' NSN' IiHNC CllHS 4'"'' HllItS ar hour on the morning of January 2i. A midnight darkness will settle upon the city at that time, the com pIetc immersion in the bath Of night lasting two minutes, but the partial immersion lasting two hours
 IL will be a sight to drive the suporstitious -- It there arc any such left in these purIous days - into mysteries; but the sophisticated newspaper Header, who knows what to expect and the why and the wherefore of the celestial phcnom- cnon. will view the show with oquauimity and interest,
 Although New Haven will have q slightly longer time of totality than any other important Connecticut city, being in the center of the dark belt, the distance of New Britain north of that point is so slight that the difference in the length of com plotc darkness will be matter of q fraction of minute. Midiletown is eclipse -lcally and astronomlcally situated to no better advantage than yrtf f,i |. observatory in that city will draw q large assortment of astronomers from throughout the country. Yale observatory also is a mecca for sky gazers.
 Considering that a complete solar eclipse will not be visible for 100 years, the coming show is one that no one should regard lightly. There are many people living in various i parts of the United States, where the eclipse will be only partial, who will envy Nutmeggers on that day. Tie New Haven railroad will run excursions to the state at that time and the standing population of the state on the day will be vastly more than it has ever been before.
 The total eclipse in New Britain will take place about 9:lO a. m. This is the time whom it will occur 1 in the Bronx, New York, but by no means as "total' as at New Haven. ! The southern belt of partial total ity will be through Central park, 1 New York one must yield much credit to our astronomers for being able to calculate so delightfully."- ac- curateI
 If there are no clouds the odd: will be with the general public, l, there are clouds the entire show will be spoiled. Even the eStron. omcrs at NliddletoWn and at Yale will be badly put out. But photo graphs of the eclipse will be taken nevertheless, as two balloons will be used at the l., S. Naval observatory from which to record the eclipse from above possible clouds.
 The non- professional spectator ir New Britain and elsewhere in th( pathway of totality should not at tempt to look at the sun with nahcl eyes. Smoked or dark glasses art essential. It is even more imporjan not to use field glasses or telescopes without protection 10 the eyes, H. may no& be able to prove thin! about the Einstein theory - as as tronomers expect to do or tn corona of the sun. or '3ai)y Bends" or the curious shadoy bands which are often seen for scN cral minutes before the sun diSap pears. But he can get an "cycluI to talk about the remainder Of hi days. He also can photograph th celestial performance 10 lis heart content - m fact. astronomer would like to have as many ana teurs as possible use their cameras as some of them may be able { photograph phases of thc ecIirs that the astronomers may miss During Uhc period of totali'y it i ,ae corona that should receive th most attention, which will ho iongo ) m the vicinity of the suns cQ"ato than at the polrs. The exact in ! stant Of the beginning and end C
 totaIity should he noted, as thi
 will be Of value 10 astronom'rs.
 Examination or the sky near tA sun during totallty will show N'nn Mercury and Jupiter close toC"the Ii is generally regarded as mar'' lous that cclipsos can he accurate Iy prcalct"l. but 10 'Ao astronom
 with spherical trlgouohcWy at h
 command, if is no great trick. T"
 ability Of tho anct"nts 10 make sur
 forecasts was much moro 1o'rar'
 lous. The ancr'n's possessed no a'
 curatc scientific knowledge. h'
 their as,rologrr7 kept records !"'
 ing many centuries and figured '
 arrival of lunar rc'ipses with a'
 curacy basel on past performance
 They cou}I no, however, ior't
 solar yclIps s wi,h similar @iilcl'u'
 due to the iraccuracy Of l"
 records, succcss!ra solar 'cl'pS's r ,:.., ,.4giIT. at Inc same B.Ir.