Eclipses, Transits, and Comets of the Nineteenth Century: How America's Perception of the Skies Changed

345 Pages·2014·27.184 MB·English

by  Stella Cottam, Wayne Orchiston

Astrophysics and Space Science Library 406
Stella Cottam
Wayne Orchiston
Eclipses, Transits,
and Comets of
the Nineteenth
Century
How America’s Perception of
the Skies Changed
Astrophysics and Space Science Library
Volume 406
EDITORIAL BOARD
Chairman
W. B. Burton, National Radio Astronomy Observatory, Charlottesville, VA, USA
([email protected]); University of Leiden, The Netherlands
([email protected])
F. Bertola, University of Padua, Italy
C. J. Cesarsky, Commission for Atomic Energy, Saclay, France
P. Ehrenfreund, Leiden University, The Netherlands
O. Engvold, University of Oslo, Norway
A. Heck, Strasbourg Astronomical Observatory, France
E. P. J. Van Den Heuvel, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
V. M. Kaspi, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
J. M. E. Kuijpers, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands
H. Van Der Laan, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands
P. G. Murdin, Institute of Astronomy, Cambridge, UK
B. V. Somov, Astronomical Institute, Moscow State University, Russia
R. A. Sunyaev, Space Research Institute, Moscow, Russia

Stella Cottam (cid:129) Wayne Orchiston
Eclipses, Transits,
and Comets of the
Nineteenth Century
How America’s Perception
of the Skies Changed
Stella Cottam Wayne Orchiston
National Astronomical Research National Astronomical Research
Institute of Thailand Institute of Thailand
Chiang Mai , Thailand Chiang Mai , Thailand
ISSN 0067-0057 ISSN 2214-7985 (electronic)
ISBN 978-3-319-08340-7 ISBN 978-3-319-08341-4 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-08341-4
Springer Cham Heidelberg New York Dordrecht London
Library of Congress Control Number: 2014946413
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Pref ace
In the middle of the nineteenth century the USA, previously dependent on Europe
for general information on astronomy, matured to the point where it also could con-
tribute to this knowledge. No longer would astronomy be considered only a tool for
navigation and time-keeping. In this book we will demonstrate how American citi-
zens promoted the participation of their young country in this science. Particular
spectacular events and objects such as comets, meteor storms, solar eclipses, and
transits of Venus were well covered in newspapers and periodicals, and public lec-
tures on these topics were well attended. Some members of the general public
became more involved, and would contribute funds and even participate in astro-
nomical endeavors, as amateur and professional astronomy grew throughout the
nation during the second half of the nineteenth century.
Members of the scientifi c community are most generous and have been willing
to share their time, thoughts, and resources with us. It has been our pleasure to com-
municate by phone, e-mail, and in person with the following individuals, and we
would like to express our gratitude to them.
Robert Ariail, of the Antique Telescope Society and co-author of Alvan Clark &
Son – Artists in Optics (1995), supplied useful information on Clark telescopes, and
gave us permission to use his photograph of the Fitz telescope in this book.
Dr Walter Breyer, the Executive Secretary of the Antique Telescope Society,
recommended knowledgeable colleagues who proved to be invaluable sources
of information.
Ben Burress, Program Content Developer of the Chabot Space and Science
Center, provided details on its growing signifi cance since the nineteenth century in
bringing astronomy to the public.
Jacqueline Davis, the current Director of the Fort Sam Houston Museum, assisted
the fi rst author in locating the historical marker for the American transit expedition
site in San Antonio, Texas, and provided some materials that brought the event to life.
Dr Suzanne Debarbat (Paris Observatory) provided some elusive information on
the French transit of Venus expedition to St. Augustine, Florida, with the assistance
v
vi Preface
of Virginie Barbet from the Paris Observatory Library. She also had numerous
discussions with the second author of this book on the nineteenth century French
transit of Venus campaigns.
Dr Steven Dick (ex-U.S. Naval Observatory) brought to our attention records in
the National Archives in Washington D.C. relating to public contributions to the
Government’s 1882 transit of Venus program, and he kindly sent specifi c informa-
tion which enabled us to locate these in a timely manner. Meanwhile, on numerous
occasions he discussed the American nineteenth century transit of Venus programs
with the second author during their collaborative research on these expeditions.
The late Professor Hilmar Duerbeck (University of Münster, Germany) provided
information on the German transit of Venus site at Trinity College in Connecticut,
and details of other nineteenth century German transit of Venus expeditions.
Bart Fried, a founder of the Antique Telescope Society, kindly discussed the
American telescope-maker John Brashear and recommended some useful resources.
Professor Jay Pasachoff from Williams College provided us with useful com-
ments about nineteenth century solar eclipses and transits of Venus.
Dr John Pearson from the National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand
provided us with valuable information on nineteenth century total solar eclipses,
and the Lick Observatory’s solar eclipse expeditions.
Leslie Proudfi t from the Astronomical Society of the Pacifi c provided information
on the growth and accomplishments of the Society during the late nineteenth century.
Carolyn Sanford, Head of Reference and Instruction at the Gould Library at
Carleton College, and Eric Hillemann, Gould College Archivist, provided informa-
tion on their S idereal Messenger .
Professor Chris Sterken (Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium) provided several
items of interest and inspiration regarding the 1882 transit of Venus, especially
relating to Jean-Charles Houzeau and the Belgian expedition to San Antonio, Texas.
He also discussed the accomplishments of the American astronomer David Todd
during this event.
John Ventre, the Historian at the Cincinnati Observatory, was always available to
verify facts and offer useful suggestions. He also provided the 1870 roster of mem-
bers of the Observatory.
Associate Professor Alice Walters (St. Francis University, USA) provided a copy
of her paper on broadsides and solar eclipses.
Eileen Wild from the Chicago Astronomical Society communicated details
regarding the Society, its membership, and its accomplishments.
It is diffi cult to express adequate gratitude to Dr Tom Williams from Rice
University. He provided numerous valuable suggestions that were helpful in creat-
ing much of the framework of this book.
In addition, many unnamed individuals were immensely helpful during this proj-
ect, and we are especially grateful to staff at the Adler Planetarium in Chicago, the
Aiken County Historical Society, the University of Cincinnati Archives, the
Cincinnati Historical Society, the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and the
Shelbyville Historical Society.
Preface vii
Finally the fi rst author would like to thank her family, husband John, and chil-
dren Emily, Daniel, and Tamara, for their continued support. Meanwhile, the second
author is grateful to Professor Boonrucksar Soonthornthum and other staff at the
National Astronomical Research Institute of Thailand for their encouragement and
support during the completion of this book.
Chiang Mai, Thailand Stella Cottam
Wayne Orchiston

Contents
1 Introduction ............................................................................................... 1
1.1 Terminology ....................................................................................... 5
2 Historical Overview: The United States and Astronomy
Until the 1860s ........................................................................................... 7
2.1 The Leonid Meteor Storm of 1833 .................................................... 8
2.2 The Great Comet of 1843 (C/1843 D1) ............................................. 17
2.3 American Astronomy in the Early 1800s ........................................... 25
3 Scientifi c Overview .................................................................................... 43
3.1 Solar Eclipses and the Nature of the Solar Corona ............................ 43
3.1.1 Eclipses, Prominences and the Corona .................................. 43
3.1.2 Earlier Solar Eclipses of Note ................................................ 46
3.1.3 Instrumentation ...................................................................... 50
3.1.3.1 Photography ............................................................ 50
3.1.3.2 Spectroscopy ........................................................... 52
3.1.3.3 The Polariscope ....................................................... 55
3.1.3.4 The Role of the Telegraph ....................................... 57
3.1.4 The Solar Eclipses of 1868, 1869 and 1878 .......................... 57
3.1.4.1 The Eclipse of 18 August 1868 ............................... 57
3.1.4.2 The Eclipse of 7 August 1869 ................................. 63
3.1.4.3 The Eclipse of 29 July 1878 .................................... 75
3.1.5 Evolving Directions for Solar Research................................. 82
3.1.5.1 The Shape of the Corona ......................................... 82
3.1.5.2 The Chemical Composition of the Corona ............. 82
3.1.5.3 Sunspots and the Corona ......................................... 84
3.1.5.4 Polarization and the Nature of the Corona .............. 84
3.1.5.5 Intra-Mercurial Planets ........................................... 85
3.1.6 Conclusions ............................................................................ 86
ix