272 



KNOWLEDGE & SCIENTIFIC NEWS. 



[November, 1905. 



evident, even to the naked eye, with a mag-nificent rosy 

 colour, the brijjhtest at the north-east part of the lunar 

 limb, the other at the south-west part, almost diametric- 

 ally opposite. 



All the coronal rays were more or less of an ogival 

 outline, or " angel's wing-," as noticed in previous 

 eclipses. Their bases were broad, and they were taper- 

 ing and melting- away in an imperceptible mode. Three 

 of the streamers are worthy of special notice. 



The north-east ray was exactly hanging over the 

 beautiful prominence seen at its root. It seemed as an 

 extension or, better, a sequence to the solar eruption. 

 I must add, however, that at the south-west part of the 

 lunar limb the second group of prominence was appar- 

 ently without influence on the coronal forms. 



The north-west ray was very long, perhaps one and 

 a half lunar diameters. Curiously enough, its north 

 boundary was very sharp, even on the lunar limb, and 

 the inner corona was as rifted by a dark line and very 

 conspicuous. 



As to the southern streamers, they went so far as two 

 lunar diameters (from the limb), and marked with cer- 

 tainty the greatest coronal activity. 'ITie eastern one 

 of these streamers seemed double, or formed by two 

 ogives overhanging. 



The general appearance of the eclipse was, on a 

 whole, less interesting than in 1900. Brightness during 

 totality was surprisingly intense. I read without any 

 difficulty- small letterpress, and sketched my drawing 

 very easily. .All features of the land.scape were evident, 

 and the illumination perhaps greater than in 1900 — re- 

 corded as a bright one. With the exception of \'enus, 

 I was unable to see any star or planet. .Skv was grey, 

 not dark, rather a neutral tint, especially in the north, 

 with a yellow band on the south. Clouds remained un- 

 changed. On the landscape everything was greyish, 

 without reddish hue, the general appearance being very 

 sorrowful, and conveying some impression of ashe.s- 

 rain. I think the illumination, decidedly brighter than 

 that of a full nux>n night, was in relation with the great 

 activity of the solar envelopes. 



TTie eclipse wind was very noticeable, coming to a 

 standstill .some minutes after totality. Tlie fall of tem- 

 perature (in the shade) was only 5° Fahr., but in the 

 height of atmosphere it must have been greater, for. 

 at totality, a thin vaporous veil (alluded to before) made 

 its appearance rf)und the rim. It was not a clf)ud, not 

 being visible before and after, and not moving, but 

 rather a condensation of the aqueous vapour by the 

 coolness of the shadow. 



A last word. The corona of 1905 was brighter than m 

 1900, and especially active at the solar poles, a ty-pical 

 form of a maximum vear. 



At CaLmpo de la. Isla, Burgos. 



By C. NiELSE.s, F.R.A.S. 



Corona. — As per sketch herewith; inner ring very 

 bright and about one-liflh lunar di;imetcr in width; 

 streamers faint and not extensive, longest about one 

 and one quarter lunar diameters in length; colour pinky 

 white. No vividness or sharp outline as at Ovar in 

 igoo; became visible on West limb three or four 

 seconds before totality. 



Prominences. — Five large on Fvast limb of usual bright 

 cherry-red colour, except fourth from top which was 



somewhat paler (several persons reported to me that 

 they had seen this and the chromosphere between 3rd 

 and 5th prominences of a cheniical green colour 

 ( ? Coronium); possibility of complciiientarv colour or 

 colour-blindness eliminated by cross-examination); one 

 of these prominences persisted an exceptionally long 

 time before Ix'ing covered up by the advancing moon; 

 then two prominences in \orth-^^'est quadrant followed 

 two or three seconds later by an 8th in .South-West 

 quadrant, all of usual red colour, as was the chromo- 

 sphere spendidly visible all round West limb. 



Body of Moiin appeared as disc — not as globe — of a 

 dull grey-black colour. 



S/iadiw not seen coming on, but very distinctly in 

 drawing off over the distant 5,000 ft. high hills to ICast, 

 taking a minute or more to reach horizon. 



Copy of Sketch made immediutcU after Totality on .lotli Auj^ust. 1005. 



Colours of earth and sky round horizon ashen-grey, 

 then yellow to orange gold, round sun reddish-purple; 

 darkness much more pronounced than at Ovar, but 

 clouds spoiled these observations greatly; temperature 

 also changed little owing to same cause; wind westerly, 

 force 3, sky clouded, thoui^h totality from a few seconds 

 before to about one minute after was seen in a clear 

 patch of blue sky. 



Bailey's Beads — seen by ine so clearly at Ovar — 

 though carefully looked for, were not seen, nor was 

 .Mercury visible at all; \eiuis shone brightly through 

 cloud openings several minutes before totality, and 

 Regulus ditto, but no other stars glimpsed, though 

 lof)ked for in their proper places, being all covered by 

 light clouds; returning light brighter than vanishing, 

 but clf>udiness also detracted from this ol)ser\alion. 



Sliadowbands distinctly seen travelling from West to 

 Fast at rate of five to six miles an hour, distance be- 

 tween bands estimated at 30 to 40 cms., and width of 

 bands themselves 8 to 10 cms. 



Effect on Animals. — No birds visible; donkey brayed, 

 sheep bleated, and cavalry horse galloped wildly about 

 when totality began. 



