Georgia Historic Newspapers

    SOLAR ECLIPSE WAS GREAT SUCCESS
Professor Nyland’s Drawing of Sun’s Corona
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L &
Th » one te’rss strongly to Mr. W Henson's interpretation of the phenomenon and is the re
sult of tie work of Director Nylind of Utrecht (Holland) Observatory.
RGM Now Orleans to Norfolk. I
r-* In the path of the totality, the ■
eclipso ct the sun found hundreds '
•hntists. earnest in their work
yet jubilant ever the clear weather,
e.annlns every scintilla of tho corona
I of its Sphere: hundreds of thousands,
less scientific, but more awe-struck,
regarded that profound phenomenon
of thn solar system with eyes of curl- .
os ty. not untempered by a sentiment
■ of utter discomfort.
The light of day was throttled in
a twinkling into twilight, sweep after
sweep of shadow bands adding to the '
depressing gloom of the gray rnorn
| ins?. Ip tanfly following the deepest
I of the darkness there flashed, first n J
I lik.. a flag for danger, then soft as
the m-llowcst pear'y light, a signal of
■ -he sun's inextinguishable existence.
It was the light and not the dark- 1
n<- - that r-prallcd. Brom the first
contact of the determined moon tho
light ■■■ gan to diminish, apparently In
w iv- ». until on the fares of the ob
servers there fastened a ghastliness
that a- e« ntuated th.» desolateness of I
tho -disastrous twilight.” The corona.
pun» in color t >p«, peculiar and mys
terious fn cor-’‘.••t ion. touched tn in
and scenery ?.’?! -» with the high-lights
<f • i '.-ig repuHvCMM. The natu
ral • central: .n of the facia mnrcles
offer**: a frdd tor the faint, deathlike
light.
it is yet too early to predict posl
tlvo result*. Thus far the dew lop
tnents tb.a. hate a reason for drawing
out i re: h« I* .< are ccnfloed to the
prominences of th.-* sun. In one in-
| stance Professor Lord, of Ohio, be-
. red that tl • myn»
I th- . olar prominences. In the other
I the observation of p.nk prt»min r n:'cs
» promises a fin i opportunity for a close
I Inspection of the photographs obtained
S and a careful study of the results that
JULIAN HARRIS.
AT THOMASTON, GA
i IJ.k Ob’inatorv Station. Th.'iraston.
ra «■;*., Mir tSpecltl t'orrestwmdmce.t—
--* 1 The total - ‘ir eclipse of this morning was
d| n 1 rf-»et su cess. twiih from an astouvun
■f • an.) popular st .endpoint. It occurred
I r J.rf. t weather conditions. By th
men -t chan.w or bv the direct interposi
tion ! r ■ • . it WSI
from an inter and overwh» Indng failure.
Imnie t it dr It fore the phase of totality j
L-cun the face of the sun was almost
whol'v el,'tired bv clouds. Not until |
w.-ir a few seconds bes re the e
t- am- lat al dt.i they drift away. L.eht
ct— .1- aea.a obscured the sun within a
f, w seconds after tntahtv. But d 'ring
the intern nlng tim* the astron mr,
were -T •-•"*! « iwm'fl"nt opportunity.
J'• ’ - ti -for in so rtffny moat he of
I t t nstaklng Jaber.
What results hare been accomplished
will n< t te kn iwn until the,
COMPLETE RESUME OF ECLIPSE V/ORK ACCOMPLISHED
AT ROTH THE BARNESVILLE AND GRIFFIN STATIONS, i
Fy Pr-«f« • r fn» n J. Brown. Astronomical Director of the United St ites
Nawtl Observatory.
P"»m nt’!.'. Mnv 2N—To T!>* Constitution: Barnesville furnished us with
th. m • r> rs- <t •! sv which the eclipse observers could wish. No cloud.* Intcr
-1 r».l v -’. the otwervers In Barnesville. The air was steady and beautifully
• " tlr* the preparations were ren.ly for the ecl!n«.» nt the time of Its oc-
curr> . the proprammo of the observers was carried nut ess •ntlally ns In
r>> • rla • with the carefully prepared plans. The visual work of the corona
« r * .of naked eye and telescopic drawings whb h wore |n substantial
t- ■ t to the principal feature:* of the corona. A remarkably • ,>d one
f--r Its • r- ful representation of the details of th* corona was mad* with.chalk
on dark blue paper by I’rofcsrur Otis Ashmore, of Savannah, who was a mem
-1 rof th? f ivornment expedition. Ji* s;-ent many days In preliminary practice
on tl Jr- saor lift, th» University of Mrlr.*. and It. . who m
-1 t- ’« :-!e and visual drawings, each agreed tn essential f-atur•••* w ith the
••tl •r. Th< observations of the shadow bands was successful, although this
I- . •«. i nw as not as pronounced as haa been recorded at former eclipses.
Th »-|ow bands s*rm to te rot well pronounced parallel bands of shadow
• -*. but appeared to b>> more like the reflection of rippled water
pr-4 <t- : upon a screen. Professor Updegraff and Professor Nastman made
•• fu! drawings of the finer details of the Inner corona of the equatorial re
pr-.rs. Ail of this work shows the corona to have been remarkably similar to
those of ICS and ISM*, both, of which years were years of minimum sun spots.
This had b*m anticipated from the fact that the surface of the sun had been
free from nets during the greater part of the year and during a mjmth’s occu
pation of th* station here on’y on* grr.up of small spots has been «*• n. Except
th* details of the Inner corona with h were similar In character to those photo
graphed In th* India eclipse by Campbell, the equatorial streamers w*rc of a i
rather nature and pn ■ nt. <1 but little --f the synclinal rat
nont which was noticeable in the eclipse of M7B. The Western extension of
th <■ ■ ~ was much larger and more pronounced than the eastern. In the
ph .t<rrai -de work, ait hough the number of plates was n>t as great as had ■
t**n <anti«'l|at d. the exposures were successfully carried out and it Is confi
dently expected thst th<y will b* of great value. Thera were secured in all
th* following:
"Thre* on ]| by 17 double coat.-d seed plates with the forty feet
photo-h. digraph leas and four each or the S-Inch visual lens of h*Mnch
feus with the color screen, the post C-Inch photographic tclescop' of 80 inch. s.
the C-tncb Dulhneyce 33-inck focus, the 4-lnch Dallmeyer 17-lrch focus and Sc
inch DiJim. yer of St* inch focus also provided wltn color sere. n.
"Th* spectroscopic observations of Professor 11. C. Lord were a|fo success
fully carried out with the slltlcss spectograph. In which he secured five photo
graphs of it r»v.rrlng layer and corona.
“At the Griffin station the spectroscopic observations went off In strict
accord.ut.ee with the programme. .\t this point the duration of totality was
only ® sccor. 's. but the briefness of this period was more than compensated
for by the long . -xposurvs which It enabled on the reversing layer. Drs. Crew
and Tatnall - wo-eded In obtaining three photographs of the reversing layer
with the W fret concave grating on curved plates 22 inches long. Mr. Jewel
and Dr. Xlltchcll made five exposures on the grating object I> * and Drs. Hum
phr.-ys and Mr. Dinwiddle made three photographs of the reversing layer and
comparison solar spectra before nn-1 after totality will, th.? 21 feet grating,
using a spectrum th* second power. Observations of the shadow bands wcro
made by <vi«»n*l It J. Bedding, of the Georgia exp- rlmeut station, and tele
scopic drawings of th polar rays w»re nade by mys*'f with th 6-lnch telescope.
"Tb* cnly particular f.-aturcs »f int.-icst noticed in this latter instrument
was th- pa'*. r< -y color of th* prominences, th* coir being very much less
pr< nouao-d than tn former eclipses. Os the most important observations wcro
the photographic and spectroscopic. It would b'- premature to express any
d« finite pinion until th* plates are carefully developed and studied, but there
is ro reason to anticipate that they will not furnish results of great im
portance.
I forty-thre.* photographs taken dur- |
' Ing the p.r'ed of Utility had- teen
'<h \ •1. No stud ed att uipt. wa* ni ide
I •<> .*,• i u. ual id i tv., tl ms. but from th
' apt- iri’.u • of the ••nr.>r» .m l the yn- ral
I apiwar m. e of tho sun during totality the ,
| ;:sliottorm rs believe thrv have . •.•cure 1 .
I :oin,. valuable and inter* rtms inf jrm.i-
• tion. an.l possibly made tn- di-coverics ;
! ».f the gr»-tert *• lent.fie va ue.
; The corona of the sun. whi h th- a.-tron
om.is gave ti e . r-r | r: ■ : <t-
; trt.tlon, because of th< ir ln o.net <on -ep
tion < its niture and • < itint. wa,« as
| laru • as ;ny s-< it L>rh g ::'iv pr>'V.-us
I .clip".—, and was of unusual brilliancy ami
r beauty.
j ffoilowinr is an authentic list • f the
, photographs s <i* •'.! and tl- instruments
• el tk .
Ten with forty lo .t t. !• scop-, six with
i aix-in- h photo-tele« op-'. »ix with the It’cn
! photo-t l.s.ope, th. with -h e- f<\ IS
<a -t-ra ip tur - < f r • -stilts: it), four .
with tlve and- -n -h i f-.t >■ ■ r -t o-
(> •:«. one . :-h with t-.o sjiectros o-.-s.
i ... with ol • : • rating
three with objective misni sp.-tros.s.p-.
AT BARNESVILLE* GA.
! I’nitod Stal.s Nit «l ol servatorv Sta- i
J tion. Barnesville. May 2s.- (Spacial ,
. t’.irr* sponden.. .1 Afti r tunny weeks of
; exp«-et:it:<'n ut.i ar.xiely. : ft*r an infinite
..’ .... : - Irate and
! delic.ite details, the sol <r el lipse passed
I my— ... ■- •' ■ ■
..—I- *
ARTIST WILKINSON’S SKETCH OF SUN’S CORONA. MADE AT BARNESVILLE, GA.
" ' ■ . ■- Though the L - lO ni streamers are shorter than
■' ’ ‘
off here today with n success far beyond
the mast sanguine « xpeet itions of those
interested and with no ek ment or ft -i
--inre to mar th* preconcerted program nn-.
i At east two facts w«re brought out by
lhe work today that may prove to be
brand new discoveries and m< an new
• facts for history, so far as th. world of
j astror.emv Is cone-rn*d. Prof, or 11.
’ «• I..>r.i in hl« spectroscopic obs< rvatlons
i nnd visual work has obtained results that
tend to prove that the mysterious matter
uhic! forms the j-orona. is to be found al
eo tn th. solar prominences, a fact hith
erto unknown Dr. W. E. Aiken, under
i th* direction of Professor Otis Ashmore.
made an original attempt at phntograh
!• K the -’.- dow bands, and Ixlicv»s that
th* development of hl* p>at<- will show
Fldendtd results. This Is an :■ dronomlcnl
feat that has s- Idont b far- be, n at
tempted. and will add another branch to :
THE WFPKTT CONSTITUTION: ATLANTA, GA., MONDAY, JUNE 4, 1900.
I astronomical photography If it is sue- '
ceaafuh
The first appearance of tha moon’s
I shadow iv_s upon the upper rif,ht limb of
tho f ’.-.n’s .«ur u:c. At fi—» there was tho
.-dtali'.ilr.til tiers ac thovsh r. piece
J. J teen Ic’.cn out. Gradually the dark
■pace was c;.'t.yc.d urtti at 7:35 o clock i
only i. thin crescent rhapetf margin w.r -
vi.lblo of th; aun’r. turfase, and tho light !
’ .d '.-.x;-.- d u.. '1 the aurroundlr.s country 1
ciiiel to r»ot under the east blow of
i twills'nt.
At eltfht minutes before totality Proses- ■
• r ViiJ-graff shouted <_r all to get .
ly. Harried order., wi re th're
.. -a rushlns to end 'ro in wl it i. :i-
and each i.uiii wu? or. the e.h ft for the .
perted of tn tivlty to arrive. From then
' • *
co: ‘aet. or t italtty, there was absolute i
s, e..--in. ■ was depicted upon!
< «-..unt< : . >r.'i only when nee- |
; e it;, d-mambd It. and then in a hushed I
I i.ii... iany word spoken. F<»r at I
1,., t ten minutes before totality, a.l
| vs w, r; dis. arded. and th- unusual
| siyiit was presented of mortals staring
; i-.i th- sun >Uh naked ey< ... , ,
’l I. rc are s ir* < - .y words that will truth
fully or a ! quately des ribo the picture
of th< .- nil ai d :u> on ■. i-mlro;ly blenucu
to-- 'her In 11 ■ h< avens, or o' the .I nk-
. in.-d disc with th- b.autii-11 and mysteri
ous corona surrounding it. sharp and
sudden the last ra> o. the sunlight was
shut "’.lt. h< darkened circle of the moon.
:. r th* idiot. <’>h o v. a- suddenly sllhuet
t<-d against th.- hiavens. and around it
.-trie i’-lits and i-nclr Inr; band of
1,1 ' \ that 1 I" loud a'l rift!ot>
nut >ni th.- up|cr r gl-.t limb and the
lower 1. ft limb of the darkened orb of
■ ■ , *ea.m projected tar into
‘ a.-. Ru.'m nlv at the lower riirlit limb
‘d. r.-n'.- pi’il;' b it.-ct was visible, being
tin- b. pitiful chromosphere.
Far .-fl' to the r:-,-ht. twinkling ns at
> ’ the p me M'-rcury se.mod to gaze
■- . at the turn uat atti-
tude <>f tlie large luminary bodies, and
oft to t’ e 1.-ft th- st r Aldeb.iran of tho
eon: te’t- tn -i of l’a irus. was also visible.
At 7:7A o'clock a broad band of light
' V"I I■ •. u '
■
V
■
i was . howtng on the upper right I'.mh,
1 t e light whb h had been gradually
ir.< r< asin* was about the entile as at
tn. n. With the « n-lliig of totality < nthu
sj -mln tl - . lips- teemed to wan*.
1 ■ >r M I:. Sevd'-r. of the I h.1a
,,1, . , ]l‘- s. O’: .vatory s’at. >n.
. . i • .a .■ the < 'ij'-e work as c ndu< :■ d
... ... , • . r the 1 .it- of t
’ t-xlltv vi l '!>abflr:s ,1.1.1 a rich harvest
fre u t ■nd ’hat t . popular iu!n 1. an
i .ir.ity appr—iate tho »rind array of
talent nn.i ippiUnccs thlit han tn<..lj
wrested from th. ccltpsed sun Fcret of
tint-id value. Great, how ver, r.s
th«» I.iriio st lcntllic entcr| s tin r
♦rtr: a’** rrsult?*. It was brna liy tru”
that many minor and modest ntt^tni-. s
tn i,ht prove of great valu. to science.
H. had himself proved by hc
ta.-il trial tod v that the lir.T- *c*ords
of .-i" i rapidly eh.-.r.r'nir phenomena.
. ;’.T 1 o rr* nr<led a nr- it» ’.y bv a chrnTin- ,
■■ -ph i.j .l that nt. ’.v .n'-scent ntw
!,„ . mid b* properly term* Ivl ta
. ’ e’ vnt'ons of th* . nr.a a. Several pho-
rs .-ae *'-.fully trad* oh«erv.a-
! t'.on* of the shadow l and* : nd the rolnr
: prominences constituted the main
work of this station.
RT GRIFFIN, GA.
Griffin. G,a„ May 2S.—(Special.)—The
eclipse of th* sun which has been the
dr. am. thought, speculation and the aid
con Idercd topic of conversation around
here forth- past few weeks has com* and
gone and from a citizen’s standpoint it
was a b autlful success, while from an
asti-nonilcal view It may be satisfactory,
and then again It may not, as there was
a .-’fght cloud about the sun that c.atnc up
I Just at th* time of the eclipse that may
' have had some effect on the photographs.
' This, however, cannot be determined, and
will not be known until the pictures have
! be-n developed by Dr. Jewell, of Johns
, Hopkins.
At toX' o’clock the first speck was seen
! on th<- sun. wh'ch rapidly grew into a
cr.-sc nt. Som*th’ng like a murmur of
d.-llght went up from th* watchers, while
th.- face- of the learned men at the sta
tion wore a look of expectant enthusiasm.
Every instrument w ,s re-examined and
tested as to position, the last details
thought of and c arried out, and at twen
ty minutes before the time for it to reach
totality everything was in the best of
shape. Suddenly there was a feeling that
something had gone wrong and it was
I quickly nolle, d that a fie-cy cloud was
moving toward the eclipse.
[ Tiie astronomers began to experience
a little nervousness and appeared appre-
■ hensive of dang, r to their project. The
i curious only seemed to be pleased at it
and .-n. > d the rainbow effects produced
I I y tin- . xpirlng lays of the sun upon
| u.. clouds that seemed to be condens
ing around the sun. The time wore on
and Instead of dispersing the cloud seem
ed to become somewhat densed and to
.-tick v< ry . . ly to the eclipse. An or
der was givi-n to every one to keep quiet
so not a word was spoken that was not a
command. Everything was in its correct
po. Ilion and when Professor A. J* Quaint
unce. of the experiment station, called out;
"Only t*n minutes until totality begins,"
every one so; ght his allotcd post.
Dr. S. J. Brown, director of the l.'nltcd
at nava . i. :it..ry at W ashington,
to >k h’s -tan.l by the telescope. At the
Hat grating instrument. Professor L. E.
J. weli. of John Hopkins, ami I’rotoscor
S. A. Mitchell, of the Columbus universi
ty. of New York city, made ready. Dr.
Henry Crow- and Dr. R. it. Tatnttll, of the
Northwestern university, at Ev'iinston.
Imi . took charge. Prof, ssm- W. J. Hti-n
--pl i-y md Instructor VV. IV. Dunwiddie,
of u.e I’niv -rslty of \ Irglnf... went into
th-- dark room containing th* twenty
on.- foot cofi iv.. grating ami were seen
no more uni I the cel pse was over. Pro
i. . A. i. Quaintan .ol Expt riment
rt-.itian. was at th.- chronometer; State
r R J.
Redding and Agriculturist J. -\1: Kim
brough, of Ex|“ rlm« nt Station, were di
rect, d to look for shadow bands, while J.
11. Dr.-wry and J. V. Stwtell were sent
off to watch for the shadow of totality.
Dr. Crew impressed upon all that quiet (
was r.cc ssaty and ni one was allowed
ti approach witbin one hundred yards of
the circle.
I roftssor Qualntance finished the min
ute end count d forty seconds more lint
ci-, the to’allty b< nmn perfect. T'ab;
. v.o-ld make it J"-»t 7.W that the tot- iity I
I comnitneed, Ir.sttad of 7:25:20. as wai f .re- '
i • . jn th!rty-t w > - nda acres • ■
, r :n rs too sun burst th->utrh and qv.lck
i Iv the rarih was lighted up .-.ra ti and
gradually the cres mt grew Jnrpor until j
1 when the last v< ' * c* a spot on the
run had di- apij't r and. t iore were '
, - - - rrowa,
! F; sex \v. .1. I> -m, • r-'vs ray., that |
'he thinks everything will b vr-rv sa:i’-
f.'-clitry though ho ciinn--.' tei! until tiic
th“ pictures have be n (level >r»ed. They
be develop* 1 ho ■ -- r al WMhlngtnn. -
D f’. That work will be done by Dr.
J. v ell.
All <>f the a*tronom» r-< room to boos the
i opinion th.-it very • it!s*?c:ory r - "Its hnv.-
1 boon obtained, tut can give nothing def
| inlte. So all hope for the b*st.
WEATHER FINE AT SILOAM.
Chobot Observatory Station. Siloam,
On., May 2S.—iSpcciat)—The rky was
clear and general conditior s good. On
large and small scale photographs were
(btnined with two fifteen feet focus telo
scopi-san’l a camera. These were coulpp"*!
with special apparatus glvhv; faint part
cf the corona from fifty to two hundred
tines more than the extreme inner cor
ona.
The general corona was remarkably -
similar to tho India eclipse of ISSR, but !
tin- extensions wire only idiout half as
large. The polar streamers were, how- .
-
L
--
u
/
’< ’’’i
’ * 1".
d
ever, twice ncos long and the sunflame >
rt> .re numerous and immensely long. I he
full programme was carrl.-tl out without
a hitch it. .Ighty-two second by ! .
tai. nt and Professor Bttrekhalter s great
. t exix-ctatlons ar* more than realized In
( v.-rv oarticular. The shadow ham’s and
other ph<-ii..mena w. re observed by other
t; i-.t.-tt ts. Th.? remaining plates will be
taken t-> Chicago and home to California
ji< i development Nine of these are e. n
tt lied exp s ires from two to twelve b-.tn
dr< 1 seconds at moon s edge and fro»’»
f mr to eight seconds total exposure; the
remaining plates were made in the ordl
iij ry manner for comparison.
The Eclipse at Washington, Ga.
M’.-i- hlngton, Ga.. May 2?.—(Special.)—
Th- m«-n of science from the east and
west who have traveled thousands of .
n b and spent thousand* of doll rs and
much energy in ord r to h tv- just a .
few minutes to observe the phenom, na |
of this morning at )A tshington are happy
and look back upon the morning hour
with keen satisfaction.
A drift of clouds In the southeast gave
nn excellent opportunity for observing the
moon’s shadow as It swept across the sky.
The shadow bands were plainly seen boti
bv experts and lookers on. It was r.u
awe inspiring scene at the first instance
of totality and as the wonderful light of
th* coion.'. Hashed out from beneath the
black shadow of the moon, two large
MAP SHOWING GREATER PORTION TOTALITY SAND
_ .. , „ . T , .. . J ' - -
('< /
/ TENHES.BB& x -'- A
> ----
i / 1 ' Z
/ ; S ~x>' 7
/ 1 » ATH e <?
ff , j < AT L A NTA O
I < l' Birmingham 'j
A 1
| YAZoo Ctry I o Farion * v L
)1 * I ' o %. \ /r 5
)/ J
ff X ■
JJ 9AcKSON ’ •' z
/ Z V alb / - / ,
jf ) . j o y (// / / z
/ / /AONr/CELLO \ < //// / / /
Jr \ Ua ß , a >7/
€™-HZ'^- ; -■ \ ' i . z /(
' \ / \ fc£? ACOUA r> - __ ) \
0 /» u Mu
! I ~_, Wn \ \
V
: OFFICIAL DRAWING OF THE SUN’S BEAUTIFUL CORONA:
*-.<■ ■ ■’ - ' --L ? •.. - d \ /
/ . • • ..7
/ ' '''■ ' /
r . * • • r • ....
> i .-ii-
The Constitution is enabled through the courtly of Professor See to S ive the first public presentation of the official drawings
made for tie Uu ted Stites Naval Observatory fast Mon I ■/ m rn ■ g
protube’r'im or wore plainly visible. Dur
ing the darkest portion «»t the movin' large
print could be re;i<! without d'.fliculty.
IN THE CAROLINAS.
Conditions Ideal at Wadesboro.
Wad- s'xiri., N. C.. May 28.—The scientific J
men of America and England who have
bten lor at cd here for weeks oast in pri-pa
j ration for tho eclipse of the sun were
never more delighted than they were this
morning to see the sun rise In a skv that
was : 11» v-1 tit ♦i y cloudless, save hvic and
there a streak of cirrus. As early as 6
o'clock the observers were hastening to
their various positions of observation,
and ail was in readiness iong before the
hour for the eclipse. Professor I-angiey.
In . barge of the Smithsonian observ uory,
bad assigned men to separate stations,
and all pet formed their duties like clock
work.
Professor J. B. Colt, of Boston, pal l at
tention particularly to the important mat- i
ter of the corona ami protuberances, and
his observations settled ono v' ry impor
tant matt, r In regard to the pres.-nt
cellpse—that is. that there were no white
pt ominew «s in this nart'cular eclipse.
J’roi. s.-or Colt 1 satisfied that the ’..-suit
of tod ty’s observations will b - t 'octter
I knowP'.i-: -of the corona, and that s-l*n
tists w!d lenm more of the term ..ml
| dins lion < f th* curvattip? of the str>-ain-
I ers. The totality laste 1. a co:-lint to
Professor Colt, s.-ven sc ends less than
had be*n calculated, but this, he “avs. is
not surprising. It only demonstrates that
scientists are not perfectly -uro of iP the
antics of the moon, and the m dions of
the planets can not bo comp’it--i with
more ac atracy than this morning.
Good Results in South Carolina.
Columbia, S. <’., May 2S.—ln South Car
olina the weather was well suited for ob
servations of the eclipse today.
At Newberry there were two parties.
one composed of Frank II- Bigelow and
Cleveland Abbe, of the United States
weather department at At ashington. and
the other of Garrett P. Servlss. Charles
Menhekc. of Brooklyn: Otis Wattells and ;
J. (}. I.evlson. of Brooklyn. The. totality
I at that point lasted eighty seconds.
| Professor Servlss Is convinced that the |
1 corona must be nearer to the earth than .
the sun itself as It required an entirely |
different focus. He also noted hitherto
unexplained conditions in the atmosphere
at the occurrence of totality. Both parties ■
had specially constructed cameras, which
worked successfully.
The corona exhibited four distinct rays. I
Professor Serviss's calculation is that one
of these was jjHxi.OtX) miles long and ex
tended to Mercury.
At Little Mountain tho South Carolina
university watched the phenomeni The
shadow bands were plainly seen. The yel
lowish light of the corona prevented total f
darkness, but a deep twilight settled over
the country. A wide perspective was af
forded from this eminence .-nd the shadow
could he traced io retreat as the aun
emerged from totality.
ECLIPSE IN-ALABAMA.
Montgomery. Ala., Mty 28.—Fourteen '
astronomers from different unfvu sities
throughout th- north took observations 1
of the eclipse at Union Springs this morn
ing. Th-y were provided with the most
improved instruments and the result of
the Work will be of great benefit to the
scientific world. They secured twenty
six plates of tho approach and fifty of the
OBSERVED CORONA MATTER IN SOLAR PROMINENCES
Barnesville. Ga., May 28—To The Constitution: The sun Is a scmi-solld or
liquid body surroun.V.l by an atmosphere of gases. These gases are not such
as we arc familiar with on the surface of the earth, but are gases of such sub
stances as iron, nickel, carbon, calcium, etc. Now if we allow the light of
a solid. Intensely heater to fall upon a prism we get a continuous band of color.
If on the other hand, we allow the light of a gas Intensely heated to fall upon
the prism we obtain a series of bright lines: thus, in the laboratory if we
have to heat a ball of Iron to white heat and allow Its light to fall upon a
prism, we would got the continuous band of color; If. on the other hand, wo
converted the metallic iron into a gas by means of the electric spark and al
lowed the light to pass through the prism, we would get a vast number of bril
liant lines. Now. if we took the intensely heated ball of Iron and allowed the
light proceeding from that to pass through a mass of intensely h*ated gases.
We would find on examining with a prism that the continuous spectrum or band
of color would be crossed by a series of black lines occupying the same po
sition that would Ik- occupied by the bright lines which we would obtain by
examining the light of the gas alone; thus If we examine with a prism the light
of the sun which passes from the intensely heated solid nucleus, through the
surrounding gases which act as an at mosphere, we find a continuous spectrum
crossed by nn enormous number of black lines. At the time of an eclipse, as
the moon covers up th,? solid portion of the sun. we receive the light from the
surrounding atmosphere alone, which, when examined by a prism In accordance
with theory, ought »o show a bright line tn the place of every dark line an-1
ordinarily In the solar spectrum. The h*lght of the solar atmosphere Is prob
ably not over from 5»X> to 800 miles high, and it takes th* mor n from one to
two seconds to pass over this atmosphere so that th* duration of this bright
line spectrum is of exceedingly short duration, not lasting over two seconds.
My apparatus was designed to obtain a photograph of this flash spectrum
and also of the spectrum of the sun immediately preceding and immediately
following its appearance, the apparatus const-ting of an ordinary tel-scope to
which was attached a spectroscope of moderate power, provided w th an ar
rangement whereby a number of photographs could be taken in rapid succes
■ion.
In order to tell when to make the exposure, I watched the sun through an
additional spectroscope, making one exposure Immediately preceding the occur
rence of the flash, anoth r exposure at the instant of its appearan- e. followed
by :i third as soon as the flash spectrum had disappeared. I repeated this
series of observations In an inverse order at third contact, securing in the
meanwhile a long exposure on the spectrum of the corona. Until these pho
tographs shall have been developed it Is impossible to -iy exactly what su« .<*
has attended me. But th- usual observations which detennin' 1 th.- instant at
i which to make the exposure have shown—at least to my own satisfaction -
that the flash spectrum is by no means a phenomenon which takes plac>- insta:.t-y
in its complete form, but that through it lasts for an exe-ctlingly short period
of time (estimated immediately after the eclipse as no: ov- r <»t never
theless it changes continually during that Intervil.
Furthermore, these same visual observations teem to indicate that
that mysterious matter which forms the corona is to be found also in
the solar prominences, for during totality the chief coronal line was
seen to be broken and irregular in exactly the same manner in which
the prominences ate observed to extend fjom the sui face of the sun.
Os course, when they an- d- vclopcd the photographs will give much stronger
testimony in regard to this point than visual ot>- -rv ition. So f tr can be
foretold the programme of observation ha? been < :ully carried through.
1 wish here to express my <1 •-p sense of oblieati nto Prose -r S. J. Brov.n
and Professor 31. Updegraff, both of the Unit, . Stat- naval ob-ervatory,
whose c->rdlal support and kindly interest have mid thfi work not <-niy pos
sible. but who have a!-o contributed in a \ late- hare to its su cess.
JI. C. LORD.
totality. Three of these plates were de
veloped in . water and were pr .nounccd
perfect. Owing to the peculiar nature of
the plates the remainder cannot be de
- vcloped until they are in a i-liin ite that is
I cooler. AH present were well satisfied
I with the outcome, and while a slight hazi
ness interfered s-'inewhat with the views
1 -,f corona, th' result was gratifying,
i Among the party pr<-s nt were Pr lessors
sworth, Ulegl u oratory;
Brashear, of Alleghany; Kintner. of Uni
: versitv of Pennsylvania: Davis, of United
1 II -pkins; Ward, of IJaldw n. Kas.; Wil
son. of Beaver Falls. Pa.; aWr-.1. of Otta
wa. Kas.
ALGIERS.
ALGIERS. M iv 28.—The eclipse was ob
served here under fine conditions. The
sky was almost cloudless and the atmos
: ph,-r.- almost transparent. (NMervfng par
ti. -s were i. re from i ■-; «I. France. • r
; many. Italy and Switzerland, the largest
being the British. As totality approach
, . 1 til" ■ if- ■ ■ W D .rkr,- -s -wept
I the earth: the sea lost its deep blue and
I took a neutral gray tint; trees became
! funeral purple.
When the last ray of sunlight faded
I the corona Instantly shone forth, unusual
' Iv large and brilliant, extending to Mer-
I cury, shining with Intense white luster
tw.>’ degrees aw.-sy.
The shape of the corona was almost ex
actly that of 'io- eclipse of 1878 as seen
In the United State-; nani- ly, two wings,
one shooting almost vertically upward
, and the other downward, both almost
i exactly on a solar equator.
I
7