Extracted text
Editorial transcription, lightly normalized from the scan. Line-break hyphenation, spacing, capitalization, and unmistakable OCR errors have been repaired; the claims remain those of The Flaming Sword.
A LUNAR ECLIPSE is one of the most remarkable phenomena in the field of astronomy, and presents many features and problems which are inexplicable from the standpoint of the popular system. The scientists have never been able to reduce the subject of lunar phenomena to any definite and satisfactory basis; the moon has persistently refused to conform to the demands of numerous theories. The prevailing theory requires that the moon should enter the cone of the "earth's shadow"—first, the penumbra or the twilight annulus, and second, the umbra or the shadow proper. The cross-section of such a shadow would, of course, be circular; and it is held that this is a direct proof that the earth is a convex sphere. It is observed that the edge of the shadow as it moves across the apparent disc of the moon is the arc of a circle, and the umbra of the shadow appears to be about four times the apparent diameter of the moon.
It is conceded that the sun shines with the same intensity continually, and that the earth possesses always the same degree of opacity; but the "shadow" is not always of the same shade; there being what is termed dark eclipses and light eclipses of the moon. Now the problem is to scientifically account for this manifest difference in the shadow. In view of the facts, it becomes at once apparent that there must be a degree of variableness in the moon's eclipsor. A theory has been put forth that the earth's atmosphere refracts such of the sun's rays as pass by the edge of the earth all around, and that these rays partially illumine the surface of the moon during totality; and that during periods of volcanic eruptions the air becomes so hazy as to more completely obscure the moon's disc during an eclipse. But the recent eclipse was comparatively light, although Mont Pelee and La Souffriere have been active during the summer months. So another theory lacks the corroboration of facts.
The Koreshan scientists made careful observations of the recent eclipse, by means of the telescope, throughout the entire time of the eclipse. We observed a difference of shade even during this period. The shadow was very dark as it moved over the lunar disc; when it became total, the face of the moon glowed with a peculiar red copper color at upper and lower limbs, with a dark belt between. As totality continued the dark belt disappeared, and the whole surface appeared a dull red, growing more bright until the termination of totality. The contrast between the shadow as it appeared between first contact and totality, and between totality and last contact, was very marked—a fact which is in itself sufficient to overthrow the usual conception that the shadow is cast by an opaque sphere; for why should the last half of totality be lighter than the first half?
It is a fact that the edges of the "shadow" are circular; of this we made very careful observations. The arc of the shadow was of the same curvature both before and after totality, just as one disc might pass over another. But we affirm that from the very nature and character of the surface of a sphere such as the moon is supposed to be, the shadow cast by a disc or a sphere would not appear to have the same curvature as it passes over a sphere. The principles of perspective and spherical trigonometry would forbid. In order to prove this we passed a small globe into the shadow of a larger one; the shadow changed from a convex arc to a straight line as it moved from first contact to total immersion.
The common idea is that the circular shadow proves that the earth is a convex sphere; but careful observations of the facts show that the luminous spot called the moon is not a material sphere. Is there a cone of darkness projected into space on the opposite side of the earth from the sun? If the moon reflects the sun's light, should the moon be visible during totality? Does the sun illumine the great ocean of space of the solar system? How could it then be dark at all in the cone of the shadow? Is it dark where there is no atmosphere, as the modern science of physics teaches? How, then, could the moon appear bright at all if it is a body outside of our atmosphere?
- --
The source scans remain the record. This page preserves the periodical's argument and reported observations without presenting its conclusions as independently established results. The claims remain attributed to The Flaming Sword.
The Flaming Sword · Vol. 16, No. 49 · 24 Oct 1902 · PDF p. 10