The Total Eclipse of the Sun, September 9.

Manawatu Standard, Volume x, Issue 1448, 7 September 1885, Page 3

The Total Eclipse of the Sun, September 9.

" " (Auckland Herald.) As no astronomical phenomenon is so interesting to the general observer as a total eclipse of the sun, a few particulars '■ respecting the path of totality of the coming eclipse will probably be inter esting. The total phaise will be confined to the sonthern part of the North Island, and the northern part of the South Island, and will m no place m its track •across .these islands exceed a diameter of 103 miles. The exact diameter at any certain place appears unnecessary. As this, eclipse happens early m the morning the sun's altitude will be low all along the central line, ranging from 14 decrees to 17 degrees, and the longest duration of totality will be lmin. 58sec. The central eclipse first touches these islands at a point near Cape Farewell, and leaves them near Castle Point; and ' an observer a little north of the latter place will observe the longest totality, together with the test altitude of the sun at the time. Thes& are a few of the places where the eclipse will be total, together with the times of the various phases:— At Cane Farewell, the eclipse commences at 6h 31 m a.m., a>d ends «t ßh. 43m. TotalHy begins at 7h. 31m. p7s.. And continue lm. 51s. Sun's altitude at middle of edipse, 16*0 degrees. At Wellington, the' eclipse commences at 6h. 31m. 385., and ends at Bh. 46m. 16s. Totality begins at 7h. 35m. 45., -and continues lm., 425. Snn's altitude •at middle of eclipse 16*7 degrees. At Foxton, the eclipse commences at :6h. 30m. 345., and ends at Bh. 45m 325. -Totality' begins at 7h. 35m. and continues lni. 425. Sun's a'titude at middle of .eclipse 16-7 degrees. . At Masterton, the eclipse commences •at 6h. 31m. 135., and ends at Bh. 4 : 5 m. jsßs. Totality begins at 7h. 35in. Bs., arid continues lmin. 55=. Sun's altitude at middle of eclipse, 168 degrees. At Nelson, the eclipse commences at 6h. 30m. 505., and ends at Bb. 45m. 9s. Totality begins at 7h. 34m. 18a., and continues lm. 11s. Sun's altitude at middle of eclipse, 14.9 decrees, At Oastla Point, the eclipse commences at 6h 30m. 81s., and ends at Bh. 45m. 595. Totality begins at 7h, 35rn.. 125., arid continues lm. 58s. Sun's altitude at middleof. eclipse, 1 ' '5 degrees. The geographical positions of the above places were taken from an atlas, and may deviate some little from these positions -which are more correctly assigned to them ; but the calculations therefrom will be found sufficiently accurate for observatioual purposes. Local time is used throughout. 1 S. J.Lambert, F.R.A.S.