The Popular Science Monthly, July, 1900: Vol. 57, May, 1900 to October, 1900Various
Science
The Popular Science Monthly, July, 1900: Vol. 57, May, 1900 to October, 1900
Various
Science -- Periodicals; Technology -- Periodicals
A deepened color in the sky, a fall of temperature and a rising breeze
were distinctly noticeable. No change in direction of the wind was
noted. Shadow bands were seen, but those who attempted to measure their
velocity found them too rapid and flickering for any great exactness
in this determination. There was tolerable unanimity among independent
observers as to their size and distance apart (about five inches),
though some thought this less as totality approached.
It was noticed that the birds grew silent just before and during
totality, but true to their nature, the English sparrows were last to
be still and first to begin their discussion of the eclipse, after the
return of light.
DURING TOTALITY.
The attention of all visual observers was at once caught by the
equatorial streamers. Father Woodman’s comparison of the appearance of
a structure of mother of pearl was generally recognized as good, but
different observers differed on the color estimate. A yellowish green
tinge was noted by the artist of the party, Mr. Child, while to others
the light was straw colored or golden.
The general coronal form to the naked eye was nearly that of the
small annexed photograph, which, though taken by one of the smaller
objectives, gives a good view of the relative intensities. The same
extensions of the equatorial corona could be followed by the naked eye
from 3 to 3½ solar diameters.
The visual telescopic observations of the writer gave little indication
of the finely divided structure of the inner corona which he had
noticed at Pike’s Peak. Structure, to be sure, was evident, but not
in such minute subdivision as had then been seen, and though one
remarkable prominence as well as several smaller ones was visible, the
coronal streamers did not give to the writer the impression of being
connected with these prominences, though the relationship of some of
them to the solar poles was abundantly manifest.
AFTER TOTALITY. _Results._
Comparing notes after totality, all observers reported a successful
carrying out of the programme. The greatest interest centers in the
direct coronal negatives taken with the 135-foot telescope. Mr. Smillie
exposed six 30 × 30 plates during totality, with times ranging from one
half a second to sixteen seconds, and three others were exposed by him
immediately after the third contact.
At this writing only a part of the negatives taken have been developed.
Their general quality may be inferred from the examples here given,
after due allowance for the great loss suffered by translation onto
paper even with the best care.
[Illustration: FIG. 1. GENERAL VIEW OF THE CORONA. TAKEN WITH 6 INCH
LENS OF 7½ FEET FOCUS. 82 SECONDS EXPOSURE.]
Fig. 1 is a view taken with one of the smaller objectives (6 inches),
given here to afford the reader an idea of the general disposition of
the coronal light. The upper part is the vertex in the inverted field.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account