December 28, 1899J 



NATURE 



201 



Central India, a simple arrangement for observing the strength 

 and direction of the wind. On the morning of the eclipse, as 

 on previous days, the wind w as blowing strongly from the north- 

 north-east with frequent gusts of greater force. As totality ap- 

 proached it diminished in strength and became a steady draught 

 of air almost imperceptible to the senses. At the same time it 

 shifted a little to the east. Before the moon had quite left the 

 sun's disk it was again blowing in the same manner as at the 

 beginning of the eclipse. Subsequently, as the sun approached 

 the horizon, the wind diminished and blew with exactly the 

 same force, direction, and uniform character as during totality. 



Apparently the normal wind in the daytime at Sahdol con- 

 tained two elements, one due to the distribution of pressure 

 over Central and Southern Asia and the Indian Ocean, the 

 other the result of comparatively local causes. The latter was 

 suppressed by the eclipse, and the former was represented by 

 the steady movement of the air that remained. 



The total eclipse of 1900 does not present such simple con- 

 ditions, but I believe that much might be learnt from similar 

 observations. John W. Evans. 



Royal College of Science for Ireland, Dublin, 

 December 16. 



THE APPROACHING TOTAL ECLIPSE OF 



THE SUN. 



'T^ HE astronomers of both Europe and America are 



-*• now busy in making arrangements to observe the 



otal eclipse of the sun which will occur on the 28th of 



Position W. of New Orleans. 

 Long. 90° 6' W., Lat. 30° 4' N. 



Local Mean Times, 

 d. h, m. s. 

 Eclipse begins May 27 18 26 13 

 Totality begins ,, 27 19 29 42 

 Totality ends ,, 27 19 31 o 

 Eclipse ends ,, 27 20 43 10 



Duration of Totality,^ im. i7-8s. 



Angle, from N. / first contact, 104° towards theVV. : 



point, of \ last contact, 76° towards the E. ( for direct 

 Angle, from J first contact, 40° towards the W. ( image. 

 Vertex, of \ last contact, 145° towards the E. ) 



Position near Union Point, Georgia. 

 Long. 83" 5' W., Lat. 33° 29' N. 



Local Mean Times, 

 d. h. m. s. 

 Eclipse begins May 27 19 o 25 

 Totality begins ,, 27 20 7 52 

 Totality ends ,, 27 20 9 24 

 Eclipse ends ,, 27 21 26 16 



Central Standard 

 Mean Times, 

 d. h. m. s. 

 May 27 18 32 45 

 „ 27 19 40 12) 

 „ 27 19 41 44 J 

 27 20 58 36 



Duration of Totality, im. 320s. 



Sun's 



Altitude. 



25° 



39° 



55 



Angle, from N./ first contact, 104° towards the W.'i 



point, of \ last contact, 76° towards the E. | {ox direct 



Angle, from f first contact, 41'' towards the W. T image. 



Vertex, of \ last contact, 139° towards the E. j 



Map of the Eclipse track across Spain and Portugal, 28 May, 1900. 



next May. As usual, our American cousins are better off 

 than we are, for they can observe the echpse without going 

 out of their own country. British astronomers will have 

 to travel to Spain or Portugal. The eclipse path stretches 

 from the west of New Orleans to Algiers and N. Africa on 

 the east. The local times and conditions at certain points 

 along this path are thus given in the " Local Particulars " 

 published by the Nautical Almanac Office : — 

 NO. 1574, VOL. 61] 



Position South of Cape Henry, Virginia. 

 Long. 76° 5' W., Lat. 36^ 42' N. 



Eastern Standard 

 Local Mean Times. Mean Times, 



d- h. m. s. 

 Eclipse begins May 27 19 36 35 

 Totality begins ,, 27 20 48 7 

 Totality ends ,, 27 20 49 53 

 Eclipse ends „ 27 22 11 2 



Duration of Totality, 



