The total eclipse of June 16, 1806, entered North America from the Spanish-controlled Southwest, moved across the continent in a northeasterly direction, and crossed over parts of Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, and several other New England states. Although the path of totality missed Washington, DC, the National Intelligencer published this account of the partial eclipse as seen from the young nation's capital, reporting that clouds spoiled most of the event for observers. The article goes on to say that many people were disappointed with the degree of darkness experienced during even a 90 percent partial eclipse (a common complaint heard even today—some things never change!) and that the eclipse had been highly anticipated as a means to accurately determine the longitudes of various places in the U.S.
(Any information about eclipse viewing procedures provided in historical articles should be considered unsafe)
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(Any information about eclipse viewing procedures provided in historical articles should be considered unsafe)
