Show ECLIPSE from dit ti morning at thirteen minutes past MS will occur tho last eclipse oi the year an calipso of the sun to us living in this part of tho world be invisible but as scientific observations will bo taken in those parts where its path of totality may bo seen we may rest as anred of learning something of great importance pertaining to the corona of the sun for which purpose american and english parties are now in south america and in africa we can foretell from the alman acs the instant at which the moon will finst touch the solar disk tomorrow to morrow morning with greater exactness than tho observers in south america and in africa who have cone there for that express purpose will bo able to note the contact with the aid of their telescopes and chronometers but we can form no idea of what shape the beautiful corona will possess when the total of the sun will render it visible for the space of a few seconds only nor can we state with any certainty to what causes are these wonderful effects due which we shall in time seo reproduced from the negatives to bo taken by the export astronomers tron omers who await the event so anxiously the whole subject so far may be sabuo b mere conjecture every eclipse that occurs adds a few ideas to the information which will some time explain tho mystery observations of the total eclipse of the sun in california last new years day were sufficient to establish the fact that the outer corona varies periodically in a cycle of about ration with that of the spots of the sun the corona appears most drawn out in the region of the solar equator ac the time when the sun spots are least numerous while a very large number of excellent photographs beio secured at pacific stations situated miles apart it is cot possible to say from a comparison of these photographs whether there was any rapid change in the corona or not in fact it ia pretty certain that while the figure of the corona may change from hour to hour it cannot change from minute to minute it is hoped the coining eclipse will afford better evidence on this point than has hitherto been available as both the american and eilish parties in south america and in africa are equipped with apparatus for taking precisely similar pictures thus if both the eastern and western parties are favored with clear skies the african r holography holographs holo graphs will show whether the corona actually changed figure during the two or three hours of absolute time which elapsed while the human shadow was traveling easterly across the surface of the earth in thu instrumental equipment of alio african expedition special pains have been taken to provide for the enlargement of the images of the corona before they photographed are this of course greatly weakens the image but the longer exposures required will be readily obtainable by means of very perfect clockwork which carries all the telescopes and cameras with their axis constantly and invariably pointed at the sun while totally obscured it is likely that many of ahe sternly practical business men look with disdain on the outlay of time and money BO frequently made both by the government and on the part of scientific institutions for the purpose of observing total eclipses of tho sun it is at least certain that no intelligent person who has ever had an opportunity of witnessing the glory of this phenomenon would feel inclined to disparage any honest expenditure pend iture in the attempt to study out the true nature of the appearances presented the grandest spectacle contrived by the ingenuity of man seems tame and commonplace in comparison with this sublime effect produced by the working of the creators unvarying laws it is sincerely to be hoped that tho weather may be clear tomorrow to morrow at the points where the scientific observations are to be taken not only in the interests of science but for the sake of the devoted students of as tr onomy who have undertaken the long journey in the hope of two brief minutes of clear sky |