The proceedings of the Canadian Eclipse Party, 1869Ashe, E. D. (Edward David)
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The proceedings of the Canadian Eclipse Party, 1869
Ashe, E. D. (Edward David)
Solar eclipses -- 1869
"Dear Sir,--As requested by you, I now give you the results of such
observations as were made by me on the 7th of August last, during
the progress of the eclipse.
The limbs of the moon could be clearly defined beyond the S. and S.E.
limbs of the sun. Shortly before totality, there appeared on the
sun's northern limb several watery-looking globules, which merged into
each other as they passed from West to East, and then disappeared.
At this instant, also, appeared distinct long, brilliant, yellow,
rays of light, running East and West, and far away, and as straight
as if ruled; others again ran North and South, and reminded me of
the glory ancient painters depict around the heads of Saints. On the
Southern limb appeared, just at totality, a large circular opening,
or ring of bright silvery light, which assumed the shape of a red-hot
crooked bar of iron. This, resting on the dazzling silvery coronal
light, gave a strange and wondrous addition to the glorious scene
we now beheld. Several constellations shone brightly fourth, and a
star or two low down on the Western horizon. I must not omit the
strange protuberances seen at this moment: on the Eastern side was
one like a tongue bent upwards, with streaks of a reddish hue; the
others the shape of knobs, dark and colorless, and rugged in outline.
"I now come to the general appearance of the land and sky, and the
changes that took place over the vast prairie, stretching far and
wide, upon which you had erected your observatory. It was long
before any appearance of gloom or darkness occurred, not till 4h.
29m., when a hazy gloom gradually spread over the broad expanse
which surrounded us. At 4h. 34m. was seen a dense cloud approaching
from the N.W. and S.W., rolling along in its course and obscuring
everything around. Indeed, it had the appearance of a coming storm,
and seemed in part to issue from the prairie. It did not reach or
envelope the observatory. In front of this was a lurid, unearthly
glare, clear and bright, of a greenish tinge; the dense prairie
grass around might have contributed to this effect. Presently,
when totality took place, all became comparatively dark; every
tongue was hushed amongst the groups of persons who had come out
on foot, or were seated in their waggons, from Jefferson and the
country around.
And what did they behold? A wondrous sight! At the moment of totality,
burst forth the beautiful coronal light of the brightness of burnished
silver! Upon the Southern portion of this ring of light, rested that
curved, elongated protuberance, of a fiery redness, rendered more
ruddy in contrast with the dazzling silvery light of the corona.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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