1098 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AmEBICAN INSTITUTE. 



advantages of this arrangement was the securing of pictures of the 

 eclipse taken at different times, on close examination, will show 

 whether there is within the space of about one hour any perceptible 

 change in the form of tlie protuberances which extend beyond the 

 moon's shadow. ~Ko particulars regarding the operations of the 

 French and British expeditions have yet been received on this side 

 of the Atlantic. By telegrapli we learn that the spectroscopic 

 observations have satisfactorily proved that the violet colored emana- 

 tions are of gaseous origin. So little is known, with certainty, 

 concerning the actual constitution of the sun, no opportunity for 

 extending our knowledge in that direction should be neglected ; the 

 speaker, therefore, suggested that the next solar eclipse, which would 

 be visible in this country on the Tth of Aug-ist, 1S69, should be 

 photographed at as many different points as possible. The path of 

 central band total eclipse, about 100 miles in width, will pass through 

 Alaska, lat. 61° 46.9' north, long. ^^^ 4.6' west of Washington, on 

 Saturday noon ; crossing British America, it will again reach the 

 U. S. territory near the head of Milk river, long. 30° west, pass 

 through the southwest corner of Minnesota, crossing the Mississippi 

 river near Burlington, Iowa, the State of Illinois just ^orth of 

 Springfield, and the Ohio river near Louisville. From thence it 

 will run, in a southeasterly direction, through the States of Kentucky 

 and North Carolina, and reach the Atlantic ocean near Beauford, 

 !North Carolina, at about sunset. North and south of this line the 

 eclipse will be partial throughout the United States. 



Here is a rare opportunit}"" offered to all photographers, who have 

 access to a telescope, to add important contributions to science. 

 We should make early arrangements to bring every telescope into 

 use on that occasion ; hence it seems fit now to offer the following 

 resolution : 



Resolved^ That photographers throughout the United States be 

 earnestly invited to co-operate with astronomers in taking pictures 

 of the solar eclipse, which will occur on Saturday afternoon, August 

 7th, 1S69. 



The resolution was unanimously adopted. 



Adjourned. 



