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CHAPTER III - THE TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN OF JULY 28, 1851

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2011

George Frederick Chambers
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Summary

One of the most important total eclipses of the Sun. that has occurred within the last few years was that of July 28, 1851. Though not visible in England, it was seen to great advantage in Sweden, to which country astronomers flocked in great numbers. From the numerous observations that were made, and subsequently published, we select some extracts which will doubtless interest the reader. The following remarks are from the pen of Mr. G. B. Airy, the Astronomer Royal, who observed it at Göttenberg: —

“ The approach of the totality was accompanied with that indescribably mysterious and gloomy appearance of the whole surrounding prospect, which I have seen on a former occasion. A patch of clear blue sky in the zenith became purple-black while I was gazing at it. I took off the higher power with which I had scrutinised the Sun, and put on the lowest power (magnifying about 34 times.). With this I saw the mountains on the Moon perfectly well. I watched carefully the approach of the Moon's limb to that of the Sun, which my graduated dark glass enabled me to see in great perfection: I saw both limbs perfectly well defined to the last, and saw the line becoming narrower, and the curves becoming sharper, without any distortion or prolongation of the limbs.[…]

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A Handbook of Descriptive and Practical Astronomy , pp. 104 - 109
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2010
First published in: 1861

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