65 
Ordinary Meeting, December 27th, 1870. 
E. W. Binney, F.R.S., F.G.S., President, in the Chair. 
“ Observation of the Eclipse of the Sun, December 22nd, 
1870,” by J. B. Dancer, F.R.A.S. 
The eclipse of the Sun on Thursday, the 22nd of Decem- 
ber, was favourably observed at Ardwick. Although a 
slight fog prevailed, all the details of the phenomenon were 
distinct, and tolerably well defined. A number of spots 
were visible on the Sun’s surface, two of which were of some 
magnitude. The nuclei of these spots were linked together 
by maculae, and surrounded by a penumbra which extended 
to a considerable distance. Faculae also were very nume- 
rous and distinct. The approximate times of contact taken 
by a chronometer corrected by the standard clock at the 
Town Hall were as follows : 
H. M. s. 
First contact of the moon’s limb with the sun 11 5 49 
Contact of moon’s limb with nucleus of the first 
large spot 11 31 36 
With the nucleus of the second large spot 11 37 20 
Last contact of moon’s limb with the sun, Green- 
wich mean time 1 37 3 
The temperature during the progress of the eclipse was 
taken at intervals by a mercurial thermometer with a 
black bulb in vacuo, exposed to the sun at the height of 
4 feet from the ground. 
TIME. 
H. M. s. 
11 10 0 > 
— 35 0 
— 45 0 
— 50 0 
12 22 0 
— 35 0 
1 37 0 
Pbooebdikm— Lit. & Phil. Soo. 
TEMP. 
DEGREES. 
31-5 
........ 30-25 
29-75 
29-25 
27-2 
28-5 
29-0 
■Vot. X.— No. 7.— Session 1870-71. 
