BRIEF HINTS TO OBSERVERS OF ECLIPSES OF THE SUN.
A few words (they must be few for lack of space) may usefully be added,
by way of advice, to persons proposing to choose a suitable locality at
which to station themselves for viewing a total eclipse of the Sun. To
begin with, of course they ought to get as close as possible to the
central line, say within 10 or 20 miles at the most; this matter
settled, the next important point is to find out where the duration of
the totality will be longest, coupled with the Sun at its maximum
elevation above the horizon (to escape the influence of mists and fogs).
No advice, properly so-called, can be given on these points, because
they depend on the special circumstances of every eclipse, and must be
ascertained _ad hoc_ from the _Nautical Almanac_.
In anticipation of a forthcoming eclipse, it is very important to know
beforehand the probabilities of weather. If the _locus in quo_ of an
expected eclipse is in a civilised country, there will generally not be
much difficulty in obtaining a certain amount of information as to this
6 or 12 months in advance. But inasmuch as total eclipses of the Sun,
and often the best of them, are visible only in uncivilised countries or
over trackless wastes, the problem becomes a complicated and anxious
one. In such cases it is exceedingly desirable, where competent
observers (including money) are available, that preliminary notes of
weather should be made for a year or even two years in advance. There is
in one sense no difficulty as to this, for all the mathematical local
elements of every eclipse are always made public three or four years in
advance through the pages of books like the _Nautical Almanac_, the
_Connaissance des Temps_, the _Berliner Jahrbuch_, &c. One difficulty
always confronts every eclipse expedition. If an out-of-the-way part of
the world has to be visited, accessible by sea, transport from England,
say, to the foreign shore is not usually a matter of difficulty, because
Government ships are often placed at the disposal of astronomers. But
the gravest difficulties often have to be faced after the arrival at the
foreign shore, and for this reason. Every sea coast is, as a general
rule applicable to the whole world, bad for astronomical observations.
The problem then which has to be solved is, how best to get away from
the coast inland to a high hill, and to find the means of transporting
thither heavy packing-cases of instruments, personal luggage, creature
comforts, and, if needs be, tents and the other accessories of camp
life. Let not the reader of either sex take fright at the idea of
sleeping under a tent. I speak with considerable experience when I say
that, given fine or fairly fine weather, nothing is more enjoyable in a
temperate climate. Under the term "creature comforts" I mean such things
as tinned soups and preserved provisions which nowadays can so easily be
purchased everywhere in England, and of such good quality. I would
recommend these being taken even when the eclipse traveller expects to
be lodged in the dwelling-places of civilised nations. Of course, if in
order to see his eclipse he has to go into the wilds of America, Asia,
or Africa, he must start fully equipped with all those personal
_impedimenta_ which will be found scheduled in the books mentioned in
the footnote.[168]
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 168: _The Tourists' Pocket-Book_, 1s. (Philip); F.
Galton's _Art of Travel_, 7s. 6d. (Murray); Royal Geographical
Society's _Hints to Travellers_, 5s. (R. G. S., Savile Row). &c.]