IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 151 



eastern extensioD, which was nearly in line with the sun's 

 equator instead of either north or south of it as some 

 supposed. 



In the accompanying illustration is reproduced a sketch 

 I made shortly after returning home, aided also by the 

 photograph taken with the 2i-inch portrait lens. This 

 sketch represents more clearly the details of the Corona 

 than can be secured with a single photographic exposure. 



VISUAL OBSERVATIONS OF THE CORONA. 



Fully 45 seconds were consumed after totality com- 

 menced in exposing plates, changing plate holders and the 

 eye-pieces of the telescope; the remaining 45 seconds were 

 spent in examining the Corona through the telescope and 

 with the naked eye. 



The spectacle was magnificent; to the naked eye the 

 moon appeared not as a flat disc, but a great inky-black 

 globe suspended in the sky with the incomparable glory of 

 the silvery light of the Corona as a background. 



Seen through the telescope the soft Coronal radiance was 

 apparently structureless with the beautiful, pinkish-scarlet 

 prominences at its base. The polar rays were strongly sug- 

 gestive ofelectrical origin and reminded me very much of 

 some fine displays of the Aurora Borealis which I wit- 

 nessed in the years 1892 to 18e)4. As the time of the third 

 contact came on, the rich scarlet chromosphere was visible 

 a few moments and like a dissolving view changed to a 

 light pink, when, quickly as a lightning flash the brilliant 

 thin crescent of the photosphere appeared, and the scene 

 was ended. 



