234 



Total Solar Eclipse of 1901, May 17-18. 



18. General Observations. 



The general darkness during totality was greater than that in India, 

 1898, and in Algiers in 1900, but not so much greater as was antici- 

 pated from the great length of duration of totality. No integrating 

 photometer was used. Lamps and candles were provided in case of 

 need, but they might have been dispensed with except for one 

 adjustment. 



FIG. 2. 



W 



Tlie figure shows, by contour lines of equal brightness, the position of the two 

 bright patches of incandescent " coronium " seen in the corona. 



During totality I noted several times an uncoloured ring of light 

 round the moon. It was evidently of terrestrial origin in fact, a ring 

 such as apart from an eclipse would be described as a " corona." The 

 radius of the ring was estimated as about 1 or 1^. The equatorial 

 streamers of the true solar corona were estimated as being visible not 

 further than a quarter of a degree from the moon's limb, being then 

 lost in general diffused light. The peculiar feature about the ring, as a 

 phenomenon of diffraction due to the small particles of water forming 

 the cloud to which it was without doubt due, was that the maximum 

 of brightness appeared to be in the ring itself rather than near its centre. 

 After totality colours again appeared in it, but I did not note nor can 

 I recall the diameter of the rings. 



