SCIENTISTS SURPRISED

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXI, Issue 10921, 22 September 1932, Page 4

SCIENTISTS SURPRISED

FCLIPSE PHOTOS ARE SENSATIONAL. Hamilton (Out.), Sept. 2. Astounding successful results rewarded the band of scientists who studied at Acton Vale (Quebec), the total eclipse of the sun last Wednesday. After working unceasingly for many hours on the combined computations of their totality data, it was announced to-day that the results were far beyond expectations. For three days the observers glumly faced the prospect of a clouded eclipse. Then the clouds parted, 10 minutes before the scheduled time, and perfect visibility returned. Twelve phenomenally clear plates, recording the totality phase, were exhibited by General R. B. March, when he stepped from the dark room, in which he had worked alone at the delicate developing process. His confreres believe that these plates are possibly the only perf ;ot record obtained in North Ameiicn. Striking Discoveries. Equally sensational, and of p». ssible scientific portent, was the chrometric measurement of the totality duration at DO seconds, or 12 seconds less than, the McGill University and the Ottawa astronomers had predicted for that locality. Further, the beginning of the totality Hirer, the beginning of the totality was one second later than astronomical experience dictated.