THE SUiN['S ECLIPSE JUXE 8, 1018: QUESTIOX 

 By Johx F. Lanneau 



Who in the shadow path on June 8th at the time of the total eclipse 

 will look for 



"A Xew Eclipse Phexomexon" ? 



. When the total eclipse of the snn on May 28, 1900, was seen at 

 Wake Forest, X. C, a surprising thing was noted. 



My account of it was given in Popular Astronomij for Februarv. 

 1901, in an article headed "A Xew Eclipse Phenomenon." 



Quoting from that article : 



A trivial addition to our outfit for the various observations made was a 

 number of neatly prepared smoked glasses for naked-eye views of the progress 

 of the eclipse. 



Each of these eye protectors consisted of a piece of clear glass, about six 

 inches square, put over the smoked surface of a like piece of glass, the two 

 held together securely by paper pasted along their edges. These simple 

 glasses made an unexpected revelation. 



Soon after first contact, but more especially five or ten minutes before 

 totality, when a smoked glass was held somewhat toward the sun, and tilting 

 westward, there was seen on its nearer surface, as in a dull mirror, three 

 fairly distinct bands extending horizontally across the glass. The bands were 

 each about a quarter of an inch wide. The upper edge of each band was 

 uneven or wavy. The lower part of each presented a ragged outline — a series 

 of pendant tongues variously pointed and differing in length, breadth, and 

 contour. Each band looked something like the familiar mirrored band of 

 "manometric flames" produced by sound vibrations, only fainter, less regular, 

 and also inverted, that is, the "tongues" downward. 



I so described the phenomenon in 1900. It was noted just before 

 totality. But, diverted by the coronal splendors, no one looked for 

 ''reflection bands" just after totality. Had they been seen then, I 

 think the "tongues" would have been, not pendent, but erect — point- 

 ing up. 



In previous eclipses, for many years, there had been observed the 

 well known, but unexplained, "shadow bands" — alternate dark and 

 bright bands which just before and just after totality flit along the 

 ground and across the south walls of buildings. 



These often-seen shadow bands and the reflection bands first seen at 

 Wake Forest in 1900, have doubtless a common origin. 



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