Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 August 1869 — The Eclipse. [ARTICLE]

The Eclipse.

The earth Is our home; the sun our life; the moon our time-keeper. . 'flic earth anil moon are opaque and half in sun-light, i All are sphork’uL The slin is much the largest. The earth and inoon each throws a rtonleal shadow from It* darkened hemisphere. , . , Tlie person within tide cone of shade will see a total erlipHe. { standing beyond Its apex, OB a direct line, life observer would uoto an annular eclipse. From without this plmdow, receiving rays from a portion yf the sun’s disc, we observe « partial eclipso. , . While the people of this planet cuj,>y eclipse.ol the sun, the Lunariuiis see an eclipso of the earth, and vice versa. An eclipse of the sun can only happen In new moon, for then alone is the Conical shadow on a line with the earth. • If the orbits of both earth and moon wore on the satuc plane there would lie an eclipso each fortnight. The moon’s orbit is !r to the ecliptic. The moon is eclipsed only when full. lienee to produce an eclipse of earth, moon nr sun, the new or full moon must fall In-one of her nodes. The Lunar orbit is eliptical and the Lunar disc seems to vary in size, thus producing annular, or total eclipse, as the modn Is nearer sun or earth. JS’extSaUmlay, August 7th, we have a new moon in her earthward node, and a total eclipse of the sun visible within a zone 80 miles on either side of the line passing through Springlield, Illinois, aim Saulsbury, .North Carolina. An eclipse of the sun toearth’B children is a spec table worth seeing. —i Lot each scientist go forth armed with a smoked pane of glass and see the glories of astronomical phenomena! The good people of Rensselaer are in the approximate penumbra, and will see an obscuration of 11| digits. The tail of Luna’s shade will, without a moment’s warning, approach from the west at 4:10 i\ M. In :’>o minutes the cheerful sunshine will take on a sickly, feeble hue. In one hour the moon will appear as a sphere instead ofadisc. . * This-is tin- time, to three minutes, of totality in the favored zone. » Watch for the halo and “beads,” the cfmiax of-interest and sublimity. Wo pray for a clear sky ami pleasant air. Wo will take our books and pencil and observe this rarest oecuraneo of a life-time. We need hot look for another such until 1005. • . The objects of wonder and instruction proserfted to the mind may be classed as follows:- — 1. 'l’ho pulsations of light find shade, and especially the retreat of the moon’s (?) shadow. 2. The form and motions of sun and inoon. 3. The changing color In objects near and far. 4’, The degreos of darkness and ib> effects on plants and animals. 5. The Planet. Venus 30 diameters east, niyi the stars all arouud the sun’s disc, in the day time. 0. The zodiacal light, which struck terror to Koine when captured by Alarm. 7. The saintly corona of Midnight's Queen. This halo will appear id. sh, 16m. and will thrill the mind witu inexpressible wonder. 8. The rosy serrations on the edge of.thy moon’s disc, called‘‘Bailey’s Beads,” may thou be seen. - Ask your astronomic friend to. explain io you the theory of eclipses. Tgnorailt people arc afraid that some evil wilt follow an eeiipde, hut we think there are none such in this land of free schools. Let every body enjoy the heavenly phenomenon fear. The ecltpso will last two hours, when the dark conical shadow Will sweep down the south-western horizon and the sun will set in all his golden Jieuuty. i N,