THE SOLAR ECLIPSE OF JUL^ 39,1X78. 263 



to-day had proved cloudy, this evening's prayers of the scores of astronomers in 

 Colorado, if not entirely neglected, at least would not be offered in " spirit and 

 in truth." We are confident that the members of our party would feel very wick- 

 ed. But, as it is, the feeling of gratitude is general, and belief in special Provi- 

 dence is greatly strengthened. 



Denver, Colorado, July 29th, 1878. 



THE SOLAR ECLIPSE OF JULY 29, 1878. 



PREPARED BY THE EDITOR. 



It seems quite certain that the eclipse of July 29th was not as fruitful of 

 important results to the scores of learned and skilled astronomers from the obser- 

 vatories of Europe and America, who were present at various points along the 

 line of its totality, as was expected ; nevertheless, many valuable observations 

 of the corona, protuberances, intra-Mercurial planets, and other objects of scientific 

 interest were made which will in due time be given to the public. 



In the mean time we herewith give a condensed statement made up from the 

 verbal reports of eye witnesses and from the special telegrams sent to the daily 

 papers of St. Louis, Chicago and this city. 



An appropriation of $8,000 having been made by Congress for the purpose 

 of aiding the official observation of this eclipse, Admiral Rogers, Superintendent 

 of the U. S. Naval Observatory, sent out five parties from various colleges and 

 observatories, under command of professors of Mathematics in the navy and 

 officers of the line. 



The following is a complete list of the parties sent out or assisted by the 

 observatory, their instructions and their proximate points of observation : Prof. 

 S. Newcomb, Commandeer W. T. Sampson, Lieut. C. G. Bowman and John 

 Meier were located at Creston, Wyoming, with instructions to photograph with 

 one of the photo-heliographs used in photographing the transit of Venus in 

 December, 1874. Also to observe contacts and look for intra-Mercurial planets. 

 The following party was stationed at Pueblo, Colorado: Prof. A. Hall, Prof. J. 

 A. Rogers, Prof. A. W. Wright, Mr. H. F. Gardner and Mr A. B. Wheeler, 

 to take photographs of the eclipse, corona, and all around it that could be gotten 

 on a plate; make polariscopic observations of the light of the corona; observe 

 time of contacts, and make a search for intra-Mercurial planets. The next party 

 was located at Creston, Wyoming, and was made up as follows : Prof. Wm. 

 Harkness, Lieut. E. W. Sturdy, Assistant Astronomer A. M. Skinner, Messrs. 

 L. E. Walker, A. G. Clark and Prof. O. H. Robinson. This party had the same 

 instructions as Prof. Hall's, except that instead of polariscopic observations they 

 were to take spectroscopic and thermo-electric observations. At Pueblo, Colo- 

 rado, there were stationed Prof. J. R. Eastman, Prof. Lewis Ross, Assistant 

 Astronomer H. M. Paul, and Mr. H. S. Pritchett, son of Prof. Pritchett of 

 Glasgow, Mo. This party was directed to take polariscopic observations, observe 



