ECLIPSES OF SUN

Evening Star, Issue 22470, 15 October 1936, Page 8

ECLIPSES OF SUN

PARTY FOR PUKEKOHE KAUAI MAN AS LEADER Arrangements are now being made by tho New Zealand Astronomical Society for the observation of the annular eclipse of the sun on December 14,, 1936, and also for the observation of the total eclipse on Juno 8 next year. The zone iu which the annular phase will ho visible extends roughly from Kaipara Harbour and tho southern portion of Great Barrier Island to the north shore of Lake Taupo and south of Gisborne. Auckland and Hamilton, two towns in which there are members of the society, are fairly well situated for the observation of the eclipse. The main observations, < it is anticipated, will he made at Pukekohe by a party led by Mr C. W. B. _ Michie, of Kaitai. He will have as his main instrument the coelostat _ and coronagraph. which ho is borrowing from England for tho expedition to • Phoenix Island to observe next year’s eclipse. Tho main object of the party in observing tho annular eclipse is to become familiar with the instruments under eclipse conditions in preparation for the big expedition later. The party for next year’s expedition, which it is anticipated will also bo at Pukekohe in December, is Mr Michie, leader. Mr I. L. Thomsen, of the Dominion astronomical and seismological observatory, Wellington, Dr J. H. Rule, medical attendant and assistant, Mr \V. Cade, wireless telegraphist and assistant, Mr W. Rose, assistant and boatman, Mr Powell, assistant, photographer, and ichthyologist. Another party for tho observation of the annular eclipse (states tho ‘ Dominion’) is being organised by Dr C. E. Adams, of Wellington, formerly Dominion astronomer. This will probably station itself in a different locality from that of Mr Michic’s party, so that if there is cloudy weather prevailing at Pukekohe at the time of the eclipse there will b a second chance of getting complete observations. The annular eclipse, as it will lie in the north of tho North Island, will ho seen as a partial eclipse from other parts of New Zealand, and this will also ho well worth watching. At tho time of tho partial eclipse as seen iu New Zealand on October 22, 1930, observations were received from many persons and observatories, and tho New Zealand Astronomical Society hopes that they will again come forward and assist.