1870.] Astronomy. 389 



3. ASTRONOMY. 



(Including the Proceedings of the Astronomical Society.) 



The attention of astronomers is becoming more and more directed 

 towards the preparations which are being made for observing the 

 total eclipse of December 24th next. There seems every reason 

 to believe that the English corps of observers will be far more 

 effective than any which this country has hitherto sent to observe a 

 total eclipse. Spectroscopy, photography, and polariscopy, will be 

 entrusted to the charge of those who are best fitted to superintend 

 the details by which these modes of research can alone be rendered 

 successful. As yet the arrangements have not been fully decided 

 upon, though they will probably be known before these pages are 

 printed. At present it is understood that there will be two expe- 

 ditions, one to Spain, the other to Sicily. Each will consist of 

 about thirty persons; and each will include, besides one or two 

 general observers, three distinct parties, the spectroscopic observers, 

 the observers with the polariscope, and the photographers. It has 

 been proposed that the three parties forming the Spanish expedition, 

 should be headed respectively by Mr. Huggins, the Eev. C. Pritchard, 

 and Mr. Browning. As regards the parties forming the Syracusan 

 expedition, it has been proposed that Mr. Lockyer should head the 

 spectroscopists, and Mr. Brothers the photographers, the polari- 

 scopic department not having as yet been assigned to any specified 

 chief. 



Everything promises well for the success of these expeditions, 

 since we learn from Lieutenant Brown, whose long residence at 

 Gibraltar renders his opinion especially valuable, that the weather 

 is, on the whole, more likely to be clear and settled in December 

 than in any other month of the year. The Poet Laureate has 

 volunteered to join the expedition, and we may perhaps hope to have 

 from his pen such a description of a total eclipse as will be at once 

 worthy of the subject and of his powers. 



The observers must not forget, however, that nothing but the 

 utmost care and the most thoughtful consideration beforehand of all 

 the difficulties they are likely to be troubled with, as well as of all 

 the methods by which they may secure reliable results, will serve to 

 render the expedition successful. It must be remembered that the 

 points to be determined — the nature and structure of the corona — 

 are questions of extreme difficulty and delicacy, which have already 

 foiled the exertions of the able astronomers who have observed the 

 last two total eclipses. During the present eclipse totality will not 

 last more than half as long as during the eclipse of 1869, and 

 scarcely one-third as long as during the eclipse of 1868. It will 

 tax the powers even of the skilful observers about to take part in 



