20 Observations on the eclipse of the sin, June 16, 1806. 
light with a crepuscular brightness round the horizon prevented. the 
darkness from being great during the time that the sun’s surface was 
wholly covered. ‘The degree of light can be estimated by the num- 
ber of stars visible to the naked eye. Those I took notice of were 
Capella, Aldebaran, Sirius, Procyon, the three bright stars in the belt 
of Orion, and the star « in its shoulder. Venus and Mars were also vis- 
ible. A candle had been provided to assist in reading off the seconds 
from the chronometer, but it was not found necessary in the garden, 
though it would have been in the house adjoining. As the time drew 
near for observing the end ee I took notice that there 
was a visible increase of light in the atmosphere: for 
onds before any part of the sun’s limb was ‘visible in. the telescope, 
but at 1ih. 32m..18s..by the chronometer the Jight burst forth with 
great splendor. This I noted as the time of the end of the'total:dark- 
ness. After this the light appeared to increase much faster than it 
had decreased, and im a short time it wasas light as in a.common 
cloudy day. The end of the eclipse, observed with the same precau- 
tion as the other phases, was found to be at 12h. 52m. 46s. by. the 
chronometer. 
If the times shown. by the. chron ; be corrected. for its error 
=k A’, we shall have the shia tiene of the observations as. follow. » 
. Fa aad 
Beginning of the eclipse my ew Sane te culpa 10 ; 6 24 
Beginning of total darknessss.. 0. 3 5. 2 25 26 
End of total darkness . . . «es BO eee 
End of the eclipse fi (ose wel ta vac tad a aoe 
Duration of the eclipse . . . . . , Sih habe 
Duration of total darkness cease Sisk Yh a8 
