}

Dec. 2. [Symbol: Sun] } Dec. 9. *
Dec. 16. [Symbol: Moon] }

1900. May 28. [Symbol: Sun] } June 5. **
June 13. [Symbol: Moon] }

Nov. 22. [Symbol: Sun] Nov. 22. *

1901. May 3. [Symbol: Moon] } May 10. **
May 18. [Symbol: Sun] }

Oct. 27. [Symbol: Moon] } Nov. 3. *
Nov. 11. [Symbol: Sun] }

1902. April 8. [Symbol: Sun] }
April 22. [Symbol: Moon] } April 22. **
May 7. [Symbol: Sun] }

Oct. 17. [Symbol: Moon] } Oct. 24. *
Oct. 31. [Symbol: Sun] }

The Epochs in the last column which are marked with stars (*) or (**) as
the case may be, represent corresponding nodes so that from any one
single-star date to the next nearest single-star date means an interval
of one year less (on an average) the 19-2/3 days spoken of on p. 32
(_ante_). A glance at each successive pair of dates will quickly
disclose the periodical retrogradation of the eclipse epochs.

FOOTNOTES:

[Footnote 4: These limits are slightly different in the case of
eclipses of the Moon. (See p. 190, _post_.)]

[Footnote 5: This assumes that 5 of these years are leap years.]

[Footnote 6: If there are 5 leap years in the 18, the odd days will
be 10; if 4 they will be 11; if only 3 leap years (as from 1797 to
1815 and 1897 to 1915), the odd days to be added will be 12.]

[Footnote 7: See p. 28 (_post_) for an explanation of this word.]

[Footnote 8: In Mrs. D. P. Todd's interesting little book, _Total
Eclipses of the Sun_ (Boston, U.S., 1894), which will be several
times referred to in this work, two maps will be found, which will
help to illustrate the successive northerly or southerly progress of
a series of Solar eclipses, during centuries.]

[Footnote 9: In his and Professor Holden's _Astronomy for Schools
and Colleges_, p. 184.]

[Footnote 10: See p. 19 (_ante_).]

CHAPTER IV.

MISCELLANEOUS THEORETICAL MATTERS CONNECTED
WITH ECLIPSES OF THE SUN (CHIEFLY).

One or two miscellaneous matters respecting eclipses of the Sun
(chiefly) will be dealt with in this chapter. It is not easy to explain
or define in words the circumstances which control the duration of a
Solar eclipse, whereas in the case of a lunar eclipse the obscuration is
the same in degree at all parts of the Earth where the Moon is visi