THE ECLIPSE,

Kumara Times, Issue 1165, 23 June 1880, Page 2

THE ECLIPSE,

Shortly after ten o’clock List evening a large number of people might have have been obsetved gazing most anxiously heavenwards, in expectation of seeing the eclipse of the Moon, as announced in these columns on Monday last. When, however, the hour named for its commencement passed without any perceptible change; being noticed in the orb of night, the unbelievers in the science df astronomy became very numerous. The passage of the Moon through the penumbra or lighter sha* dow, which commenced at 10.49 p.m», could not be detected by the naked eye] and as many persons were expecting to see a denser umbra all the while till the comact with the shadow itself, camd on at 11.45, many were the suggestions hazarded amongst others that we had perpetrated “ a canard, at the expense of the public;” that wo hud “ mistaken the hour;” that it was the wrong day” (she 21st being given in Lucas’s Nelson Almanack); that “the only eclipse likely to take place would be in the office of the Kumaha Times ;” and, in fact, every conceivable objection was taken to the “ event ” coming uffi However, all doubts were dispelled shortly before twelve o’clock, when, slowly but surely, a dark umbra was seen to Creep over the north-eastern limb of the Moon, and the disc of the beautiful silvery otb gradually diminished in size until, true to the appointed hour, 1.2 l this morning, the Moon became completely enveloped in the dark shadow of the Earth. Although the eclipse was total, it did nob altogether appear so to the unassisted eye, owiug to the Moon skirting the extreme southern limit of the shadow, and to refraction of the Earth’s sphere, as explained in a former notice of this eclipse. The weather and the atmosphere were exceedingly propitious, and we are gratified that through our timely notice so many people were able to satisfy themselves of the reality of the eclipse—which they may never again see under such generally favourable circumstances.