ABSTRACT
It is perhaps more usual to postpone the consideration of spectroscopy until after that of the increase of knowledge obtained from solar eclipses. But as we have seen, it was not until after the eclipse had come and gone that anyone knew exactly where to look. The detailed analysis of the chromosphere and corona at once suggested the general question as to variability or permanence in the solar envelopes. The Royal Astronomical Society, it being considered of great importance not only to increase the chances of success by occupying more stations, but by choosing those differing much in longitude, to test what changes, if any, could be detected during the interval of 212 hours between the occurrence of the phenomenon at the two stations. The Indian eclipse of 1898 was favoured with very fine weather, and good photographic conditions, evidenced by Mrs Maunder's success in showing on a plate, taken with an aperture of only 112 inches.
