The Zodiacal Light at a Total Solar Eclipse

Abstract

In connexion with the interesting note¹ from Prof. F. J. M. Stratton concerning the eclipse observations of Mr. Honda at Hokkaido on June 19, 1936, may I point out that S. P. Langley and S. Newcomb apparently observed a similar phenomenon at the eclipse of July 29, 1878. In his description of this eclipse in “The New Astronomy”, Langley says: The most extraordinary thing, however, was a beam of light, inclined at an angle of 45 degrees, about as wide as the sun, and extending to the distance of nearly six diameters on one side and over twelve on the other ; on one side alone, that is, to the amazing distance of over ten million miles from its body. Substantially the same observation was made, as it appeared later, by Prof. Simon Newcomb at a lower level. The direction, when more carefully measured, it was interesting to note, coincided closely with that of the Zodiacal Light and a faint central rib added to its resemblance to that body."