74 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



Total eclipse ends 12 i. 16.4 Kansas City mean time. 



Moon leaves shadow 12 2. 18.2 " " 



Moon leaves Penumbra 3 3- i3-7 " " 



Magnitude of the eclipse, 1.365 (moon's diameter, i). 



This is the first total eclipse of the moon visible at Kansas City during many 

 years past, therefore it is quite proper to briefly describe the cause and appear- 

 ance of the phenomenon. 



Every one familiar with the moon's motion knows that it performs its journey 

 around the earth in nearly 29^ days, and if its path lay in the plane of the 

 ecliptic we would have a total eclipse every month, but this is not the case, as 

 its path is inclined about 5° to that plane, one-half of its journey is performed 

 above it and one below it ; hence, at certain times (twice in each revolution) the 

 moon is in that plane, at those parts of it called the nodes. Now if the moon 

 at that time happens to be full, that is, in line with the earth and sun, we shall 

 have a total eclipse of the moon. This happens on the evening of the nth, so 

 at 9 h. 56.5 m. we shall see the moon's eastern side slightly dim as she enters 

 the penumbra. When the umbra is reached the eastern edge will become almost 

 invisible ; the circular shape of the earth's shadow will be then distinctly seen as 

 the moon advances ; by 11 h. 54.6 m. it is entirely in the umbra or shade of 

 the earth, but if the night be perfectly clear it will not disappear entirely, owing 

 to a sufficient quantity of the sun's light being reflected by the earth's atmosphere 

 towards it to render it faintly visible, and tinge it with a ruddy color ; at 1 h. 

 16.4 m. this phase ends and the eastern edge will become more illuminated by 

 entering penumbra when the circular shape of the earth's shadow will again be 

 seen, but reversed, i. e. : its convex side will be turned east. By 2 h. 18.2 m. it 

 will be out of the umbra, and by 3 h. 13.7 m. the western edge leaves penumbra 

 and the eclipse is over. 



POSITION OF THE PLANETS. 



Mercury reaches its greatest elongation east from the sun on the 19th, and 

 will be visible in the West for a few days, before and after that date. 



Venus, Jupiter and Saturn will form many beautiful and interesting triangles 

 this month. On the morning of the 6th, Venus and Saturn will be within 1 1 ° of each 

 other or about one-third the diameter of the moon. Venus will be to the north 

 of Saturn. On the nth, 12th and 13th they will be nearly equidistant from each 

 other, Venus being about 2° south of a line drawn between Jupiter and Saturn. 



On the morning of the 19th, Venus and Jupiter are in conjunction, Venus 

 being south 2° 15'. Neptune is also in conjunction with Jupiter and Venus at 

 the same time being nearly midway between them. 



Uranus will be in the constellation Leo in nearly the same position as during 

 the month of May, being favorably situated for evening observers. 



