THE COMING ECLIPSE.

Thames Guardian and Mining Record, Volume I, Issue 58, 13 December 1871, Page 3

THE COMING ECLIPSE.

It may perhaps he interesting to our readers to know a few facts regarding this event. We summarise the following particulars from Nature. Tlic central line of the eclipse will first meet the earth’s surface on the Arabian sea, and entering on the western coast of India will pass right across one of the most important parts of Hindostan, in a S.E. direction. In this part of the Peninsular the sun will be about 20deg. above the horizon when totally obscured. The duration of totality will be two minutes and a quarter, and the breadth of the shadow about seventy miles. On leaving the eastern coast of the Madras Presidency, the line will pass over the northern part of Ceylon, the S.E. point of Sumatra, touch the S.TV. coast of Java, Batavia lying GO miles N.E. of the central line. In the Admiralty Gulf on N.W. coast of Australia, the eclipsed sun will only be 10 degrees past the meridian, and not far from the zenith, in consequence of which the totality will last 4min. 18sec. Lastly, passing through the most barren and uninhabited portions of Australia, crossing the Gulf of Carpentaria and the York Peninsular, the shadow will ultimately leave the earth’s surface in the Pacific Ocean. Already arrangements have been made for taking observations in India, Ceylon, and Australia, when, should tho weather provejf avourahle, great results are expected. “We" trust” says Nature , “that these efforts to procure fresh observations will meet with the largest measure of success, for certainly the question of the sun’s corona is the scientific question of the day. Once settle what is the real nature of tho sun’s surroundings, and the path of work is open for m<sre distant stars.”