In 1900 the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory was located in the South Yard of the Smithsonian Institution Building.

Many of the Observatory staff headed south to Wadesboro, North Carolina, in May of 1900 to observe the total eclipse of the sun on May 28th.

Among the staff who went to observe the total eclipse of the sun was Smithsonian Secretary Samuel P. Langley, seen here on the left, who was an astrophysist.

The main objective of the observations was to investigate and photograph the corona, especially the inner portions.

This photograph of the general view of the corona was taken with a 82 second exposure with an 11 foot focus camera, and was published with the results of the expedition in The 1900 Solar Eclipse Expedition of the Astrophysical Observatory of the Smithsonian Institution, by S.P. Langley and C.G. Abbot.

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