Dr Hector on the Approaching Eclipse of the Sun.

Otago Witness, Issue 1751, 13 June 1885, Page 15

Dr Hector on the Approaching Eclipse of the Sun.

(FBOM OUB OWN OOBBKSPONDENT.) Wellington, June 10. Dr Hector contributes an interesting article on the total eclipse of the sun in September to the " Science Goßsip " column of the Evening Press this evening. After giving full particulars of the scientific features of tho phenomenon, together with all the most recently determined facts as to observations, Dr Hector says:— " To the observer in Wellington the moon will commenco to cover the sun's diso, from W. to E., at 6,50 a.m., and at 7.35 the total eclipse will begin. If the morning is fine and clear, the Bcsue will be impressive beyond descrin tion. Tha landeoapa will darken, with a tint quita unlika that of tha dusk of earring, and

produce a foelinc; of intense sadnean. Tho familiar natural features will disappear as they become stripped of their shadows ; so tbafc tho Bfnso of distance will bo lost. Colours will become d's',or(.ed, aad tha faces of meu will ahsuma a in id hue; fowls will roost, flnwrw closo, and most animals will give vent to agoniaiug cries, and a perception of horror and be_3p)eH&nees will prevail amocf? all living; bsings. At the time mentioned for tho com uifncameat of totality, the gloomy darkness will reach a climax, and suddenly round tho black spot, in tho eky that marks the conjoiced bodies of the bun and moon thg'-a will opring into visw r. grand halo of soft silvery light, extending perhapa to twice the width of tho moon in all directions — a woven interlacing of filaments of silvery light that, from provious accounts, cearn aovor to retain the same forni for long, or even to present the same appearance to different observers at the same time." The article concludes as follows:— "A most unusual and remarkable feature in this eclipse will be tho presence of the planet Jupiter and its satolilp?, iv clohc apparent proximity to tho sun - wit bin three-quarters of a degree, in fact. This will afford a known standard for judgment of the relative briebtneßS of ths different omauattoun from tho aun, and it will thus be of great assipfance in photographing the corona. The lest tr.Ui eclipse visible in New Z9t*land wa^ at 5 p m on April 5. 185b', and another will not occur tiil 2 p.m. on Dcicember 12, 1890.