GREAT SOLAR ECLIPSES. 1 1 



the sun, but what they may be, or what tremendous 

 processes going on within his atmosphere they may 

 be held to indicate, remains as yet unknown. It is 

 hoped that the long duration of the totality of the 

 approaching eclipse, and the circumstance that it will 

 be possible to observe the eclipse at several points 

 along the shadow's track (it will be remembered that 

 this was written in 1868) will enable astronomers 

 to gain some knowledge respecting the red promi- 

 n^ences. Yet more hopeful is the fact that now, for 

 the first time, the subtle analytical power of the most 

 wonderful instrument of research yet invented the 

 spectroscope will be applied to examine these strange 

 solar excrescences. 



I pass over several total eclipses to come to the 

 first of those which have been made the object of 

 scientific expeditions. The eclipse of July 8, 1842, 

 which was visible in the north of Italy, and in parts 

 of France, Germany, and Eussia, aroused an intense 

 interest among European astronomers. The leading 

 observers of France, Italy, England, Germany, and 

 Kussia repaired to various suitable stations along the 

 line of central eclipse. M. Arago went to Perpignan, 

 M. Valz to Marseilles, M. Petit to Montpelier; 

 M. Carlini went to Milan, MM. Santini and Conti to 

 Padua ; the Astronomer Royal went to Superga, Baily 

 to Pavia; MM. Schumacher and Littrow awaited the 

 eclipse at Vienna ; and lastly, the Russian observers, 

 O. Struve and Schidlowski, went to Lipesk. All these 

 observers were fortunate in obtaining excellent views 



