THE ECLIPSE

Grey River Argus, 11 October 1922, Page 6

THE ECLIPSE

AUSTRALIA’S GREAT DAY. A SUPERB SPECTACLE. SCIENTISTS’ SUCCESSFUL WORK. SYDNEY, Septi'inl'i'r 22. Yesterday the most majestic p-gcaiil of Nature was presented, ami the nn merous parties of seicnt it*«• observers were fortunate enough to witness the solar eclipse under ideal conditions. AU Australia saw the eclipse, but the path of totality was only 190 m/les wide, and those within that area who beheld the spectacle describe it as one of incomparable and impressive gran deur. It is doubtful, many observers have stated, if the effect will ever quit* pass away from their minds, so startling was the nearness to the gigantic forces of Nature. Seldom, if ever, has so great a popu lar interest attached to the observation of the phenomenon of a solar eclipse as on this occasion. Never bet ore, ot course, has science been so well equipped to detect evidences of what is going on in space, i'he scientists had a wealth of personal experiences. ami of notes and photographs ot eclipses Seen from other parts of the world, to apprise them of what they might expect to see and to <•: t «*li on their cam eras, and they had also instruments which exceeded in number, delicacv. and accuracy any collection ever be; or. directed to recording an eclipse. Although it probably will be several weeks before it is possible to discover the results of the investigation into the Einstein theory, because of the necessary comparison of notes by the whole of the observing parties in Australia, Professor Cooke, the New South \\ ales Government Astronomer, expects to be in a position to make a preliminary announcement within a week. A good account of the total eclipse was telegraphed from Stanthorpe (Queensland) to the “Sydney Morning Herald.” “The eclipse,” it states, “was viewed by the Stanthorpe expedition under the most perfect conditions possible, the cle: r sky ami brilliant lighting reported earlier being maintained. Throughout the whole sequent® of wonderful phenomena was watched by astronomers and private observers alike with breathless, almost reverent, interest. All that had been written of the awe inspired by the stealthy creeping of the darkened disc of the moon over the fiery orb wrs felt to be true, and one’s feelings were wrought upon in a manner which made one ea-ily imagine how the tribes of the earth in olden times believed this to be a dread portent of evil. Little wonder that t o the ancients the interpretation of this stupendous spectacle was that “the gods of light were being devoured by the dragons of darkness.” To us the whole phenomenon, although a natural physical event, created a most impressive feeling of the smallness ami frailty ot the human equation. “The phenomenon can perhaps be.it bo described in the proper sequence of events as seen from the observers’ h.ll. Early in the afternoon a crowd of townspeople lined the hills and rocks around, the official observation post being reserved for the astronomers, pressmen, and photographers. The leader, Mr Gale, took up his post near his telescope and reflectors. Sketching parties were groupt d at the base of the granite outcrop below, and long before starting time every member was ready at his post. The first contact w: s announced at 3.7.40, a few seconds later than the predicted time, which may be accounted for by the lack of larger optical instruments. .Just afterwards the little indention made by the approach of the moon was plainly seen with darkened glasses. The moon appeared Io lx* biting into the base of the sun’s disc a little to the left-hand side. Ail eyes were then for a space fixed to the curious spectacle of the darkened orb of the moon as it cut out a beautifully ami gradually increasing segment of the circle. It was curious then to follow the uprising moon as it impinged on the majestic disc of the sun, and marched rapidly upon a big sun spot, the apparently Jone inhabitant of the, sun. It was noticed that the wind, blowing in moderate gusts all day, quietly dropped away for a few minutes, to rise again after an interv; I. It came litfully from the west, as if uncertain of its future action. At 3.20, or about 19 minutes after the first contact, the advancing black edge of the moon had nearly reached the sun spot, and gave the appearance of a perfectly chiselled oval cut out of a yellow ball. Then, watched through a 4in telescope, the little notch on the edge of the moon, really one of the lunar ranges, seemed to swal low at a gulp the lone sun spot. That occurred at 3.24, ami then no diminu tiou in tin* light was noticeable. The titfulness of the-breeze was still appa rent a little I: ter. When half of tin sun’s disc was blotted out there was no ticed the first reduction in the light ami shadows, appearing like images ot the half covered sun, wen- seen in thlight tillered through branches of treeupon the ground. It. was curious t< watch the changing shape of tin- illu initiated image on the groom! glass o| the cameras. It was then, as the light perceptibly faded, that someone callee attention to the crowing of cocks in th backyards of Stanthorpe. The information was greeted with in credulous laughter, but a few minute, later the regular chorus that arose fron all points made it clear that the feathered tribe was alive to the gathering gloom. The sky still remained clear, with total absence of clouds, except for one or two little wisps low down on the western horizon. At 10 minutes to

I the brilliant lighting on the far hills began to fane, and taves about one took on rather a ghastly shade. Five minutes later the diminution of light seemed to be aeceleraied, and objects about the hill appeared in a pale, unnatural light, quite ddferent to any illumination that one remembered. The we ird sensation of the paling of the light on the f..ce of the earth reacted cm the nerves ami made one. curiously restless amt uneasy. The air, too, at this time, a few minutes before totulitv, became strangely ehill. Even quite ordinary natural phenomena appeared Io be significant. The rustling of wind through the wattles and gums on the hillside had a suggestion of ghostlines.,. A -tealthy breeze swept across the post, and the cry of a startled bush bird speeding homeward was all that coul.i be heard. It reminded one of the line that “Foolish gnats creep in crannies when he hides his beams." 'l'he iron roofs of houses of Stan thorpe ill the immediate foreground had long lost their brilliance, and were now of a dull orange tinge. When 4 o’clock arrived the landscape was fast losing Its illumination, and from crag to crag of the granite hills there was the same strange yellowish light, ami near-by shadows were of an unearthly hue. At H,,.,.,. minutes past 4 the big gong sounded the w: riling to observers that, only Ulmins, remained l'< fore the 2nd contact or totality. The onward march of the moon had already eaten a bigger slier „ ul the brilliant, disc, until now, a few minutes before totality, the great m-b assumed tire shape’ <rf a beautiful •a cent, resting on its pointed horns. ,!:’de it lasted it presented a very beautiful appearance, and glorious Venus si brilliantly high in the sky. Tlie darkness now, although not blotting out the landscape, ami ample for moving about and adjusting cameras, was of a most peculiar quality. At 4 minutes to go before totality the hill and siirroiindirig country seemed to be wrapped in moonlight, and as minutes were beaten on the gong the western landscape was overwhelmed by the ominous darkness, although, looking eastward, the hills were silhouetted fairIv sharply against a comparatively bright sky. The wind rose sharply near the instant of totality, but never blew with the velocity of an hour or two earlier. “Then the great moment arrived, and all was hushed irr expectation. Ihe .•rent shadow of the moon seemed for an instant, to be suspended below the western sky ami then swept instantaneously outwards, enveloping the earth in its dark wings. The curious shadow bands were seen by sharp observers passing rapidly on the light coloured rocks ami white sheets spread for the purpose. They were described as resembling telephone wires running along the surface ami disappearing as quickly as they came. At the moment of totality there appeared to be a Hash Which denoted the changing of the black absorption lines of the spec! rum into the bright colours at the edge of the sun’s disc. This is called the Hash spectr and cameras were snapped on the instant. “Then the most superb spectacle the culmination of the whole tremendous celestial pageant —flashed out. The streamers of the corona rushed outward in all their glory from the upper ami lower edges of the dark disc, and their pearly radiance made an impression of magnificence on the grandest scale imaginable. The streamers appeared to radiate to a distance of nearly twice the diameter of the sun, but were not observable to either side which would represent the poles. 1 his is the usual observed disposition of the corona at such an eclipse. There xxeie no prom indices seen, although some curious formations not unlike Bally s Beads, were reported by several observers. The great flaming corona made a huge torch in the western sky, but above were plainly visible the planets Jupiter and Mercury, and the star Spica. Through all was death-like silence, although on the hill’s summit photographers worktai at high speed, exposing their plates to the luminous streamers. Flashing out from the top of the darkened sun was one of great length, and bent outwards like the curved petal of a Hower. The flaming corona would probably represent hundreds of thousands of miles in height. The brilliance of the spectacle wrs maintained in its maximum grandeur until the end. “’l’he only regret one had was that the fleeting seconds rung out by the hammer of the swinging gong passed all too quickly. When one stood amazed at the gorgeous pyrotechnic display provided by the good offices of our satellite in harmony with the sun and waited for more, suddenly a wonderfully brilliant sheet of light cut through the darkened edge of the moon. Then I one hoard, as in a drcam, a voire alongside exclaim, ‘lt’s all oxer. It was true enough; the radiance of the corona was no more, and instead the first streak of sunlight flashed from under the moon. One looked round bewildered, and it was a moment or two before one realised that the eclipse of 1922 was but for the final phase? a thing of the i past. 'l’he sensation was similar to one emerging from Ihe darkened interior of a theatre during the matinee into . the sunlight of late afternoon.