AMERICAN 
JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND ARTS. 
[THIRD SERIES.] 
Art. XIV. -- Historical Note on the Observation of the Corona and 
Red Prominences of the Sun; by Epwarp 8. HoLpeEn. 
So much interest attaches to the phenomena of the corona 
and red prominences, as observed during total solar eclipses, 
and correct views of their nature and of the proper means o 
observing them are so recent, that I feel it proper to give here 
a brief account of what I believe to be the first attempt to see 
these, under ordinary conditions, with an uneclipsed sun.* 
This account is contained in the private diary of the late G. P. 
Bond, formerly Director of the Observatory of Harvard Col- 
lege, which has become known to me through the kindness of 
his daughters. 
Bond observed the total solar eclipse of July 28th, 1851, at 
Lilla Edet in Sweden, and his report is published in the 
Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. xxi, page 97. 
rom Sweden, Bond went to Geneva, where he arrived in 
September, 1851, and from this point I may transcribe from his 
lary, making no changes except the occasional insertion or 
omission of unimportant words. 
‘Geneva, Sunday, Sept. 14, 1851. 
I think I must go to Chamounix to try whether it may be 
sible to discern the red flames on the sun’s disk by oceult- 
mg all but the very edge, upon one of the lofty peaks. It 
P Al , Nasm: len- Piazzi-Smith a others experime n! i is 
direction ie wan eg en 3 lg Edinburgh renee ners 
xi, p. 279; Mem. R. A. S., vol. xvi, p. 301, ete. 
M. Jour. Ser. Tarp Serres— Vow. X, No. 56.—AvGust, 1875. 
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