Total Eclipse of August 7, 1869. 183 



passing over. But fortunately our prognostics were in 

 error, for at 11 o'clock p. m., the rain ceased and stars be- 

 gan to make their appearance. The morning of the 7th 

 was clear, with not a cloud to be seen, and it so continued 

 during the whole day and subsequent night. It was one 

 of those rare days but seldom seen in this climate : the 

 atmospheric disturbance being at a minimum. 



The Eclipse. 



One hour before the beginning of the eclipse, observa- 

 tions were made on the solar spots, and their position and 

 magnitude mapped on a diagram prepared for the purpose. 

 As the time drew near for the first contact of the moon's 

 limb, each observer examined carefully the region where 

 the moon was expected, to see whether it would be visible 

 before contact with the solar disk. The closest scrutiny 

 of five observers failed to discover it. 



At 10 seconds before the true contact of the limbs, a lu- 

 nar mountain, distant 8 or 10 degrees north of the contact 

 point, plunged into the solar disk and was recorded on 

 the chronograph. The true contact of the limbs was well 

 observed by all and at nearly the same instant. ' The 

 moon's limb, instead of appearing round, as it should, was 

 nearly flat and a little notched, showing a mountainous re- 

 gion. As the eclipse advauced, observations were made 

 by means of the micrometer and chronograph, to deter- 

 mine the relative position of the two bodies. When the 

 sun was about one-half eclipsed, a red band of light was 

 seen surrounding the limb of the moon over the solar disk. 

 Later, during the progress of the phenomenon, tails of 

 light were seen projecting out tangent to the moon's limb 

 and extending 15 or 20 degrees along the edge. 



As the crescent of solar light grew less and less, every 

 eye was intently watching for any unusual appearance. 



