THE ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

Waikato Argus, Volume I, Issue 37, 3 October 1896, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

Xkahi.v all of the astronomers who journeyed to Japan, Norway, and other parts to observe) the solar eclipse ou .Sunday morning, August f). were disappointed, tho sun being obscured bj' clouds. Ac Vadso, in Norway, where two British astronomical expeditions were stationed, no observations of scientific! importance could be made. The eclipse was clearly visible at Yokohama and Tokio, but in the north, whither the astronomers had proceeded, no observations were possible. The eclipse was observed under very favourable conditions at Malmbcrfret and at Scskar in the extreme noith of Sweden. A photographer from Flensbttrg took 11 photographs of the eclipse at Ilredvik, on the Skjersfcud Fiord, where it was clearly seen.

Our Correspondent at Vadso says that those who wi re not compelled to limit their attention to their instruments were in the agreeable position of being able to avail thera=clvcs of the advice givan by Dr. Copoland to these who desired to observe u total eclipse satisfactorily. 110 recommended them to look at the sun until the crescent of light was about to disappear, and then faee round to the opposite point of the horizon. The object of this matKcuvrc is to permit t bo observer to Hie the impressive spectacle of the advance of the lunar shadow over the cart b. The situation at. Vudso lent itself admirably to the observation of this magnificent phenomenon. The view from Dr. Common's observatory extended up the Var.mger Fiord and away to Ihe opposite mountains, sjmc ">0 miles distant. The observers who turned their gaze in til it direction beheld tbo supremo sight of the aelvaneo of tho deep purple shadow. Colonel Stratum, R. 13-, tolls bow be saw it sweeping over distant mountains and plunging them in such obscurity that they became temporarily invisible. As the shadow advanced across tbo fiord it enveloped too training .seniadron as it lay lit anchor, the details of the ships' rigging disappeared from view, and tlioir lights; gleamed out brilliantly. Still the shadow pressed on with its majestic speed of a milo in every couple of seconds. It moved as swiftlv as a cannon b;;H until it reached the observers at Vudso, and then announced t> them in the most impressive manner that tho supreme moment of their visit had arrived and that totality was complete.

The darkness that then buried Vadso and its numerous observer* l'isted for one minute ami 10 seconds. The unwonted spectacle hushed every one to silence. A few startled birds hurried past the camp, and amid the canopy oi cloud which covered tbo heavens at, least one observer descried a star, but though all the visitors felt that the magnificent phenomena were worthy of being - remembered as a lifelong" experience, yet it is none tho less true that from a scientific point of view the result of all the labours at Vuiso was hardly anything, During the time of totality the clouds were obdurate and nothing - could be seen. The 100 seconds fled, miirlced only by the mechanical precisian of tho ollicjr who counted them aloud. The astronomers might safely spare glances to the interesting view over laud and sea. The light around them was not greater thin that during a full moon, but in tho distance mountain-tops could bo descried which were not in tho shadow and were shining - brilliantly. Al las! the darluuss" lifted, and the m'.nncr in which the light returned was almost si r iing in its suddenness. It was n 't ;!::;' the sun became visible—this, indeed, did n t ill first happen—but when i he moon hid pi-.-e 1 by aud when totality w<i3 over t io sua illumined t'.'.e clouds, and ihi« give us again the usual light, of a cloudv Jiy whoa the orb it-:olf is hmsit.lt.- Tinas.