TO-DAY’S ECLIPSE

Grey River Argus, 22 October 1930, Page 2

TO-DAY’S ECLIPSE

STARTS AT 8.30 A.M. NEWS OF THE OBSERVERS. (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, October 21. The eclipse of the sun to-morrow, which will be total at the Island of Niaufou. in the South Pacific, will be visible as a partial eclipse throughout New Zealand. The circumstances of the eclipse are: The eclipse begins (first contact) 8.33 a.m. (New Zealand summer time), greatest phase 9.31 a.m. The magnitude of the eclipse is 0.4_, which means that at the greatest phase, less than half of the sun’s diamotor will bo obscured by the moon. Observations will be made at Kelburn. assisted by members of tire New Zealand Astronomical Society. A series of photographs of the eclipsed sun will be taken, with the nine inch equatorial telescope of the City Obsorvatoiy, th-e camera shutter auto-

maticfilly making record on a chronograph. A moving picture of the. eclipse will also be taken. A camera will be attached to a five inch equatorial telescope. Prospects for observing the eclipse at the Island of Niaufou seem quite favourable, judging from a cablegram received by the N.Z. Astronomical Society from Dr C. E. Adams, Dominion astronomer, who is in charge of the party of New Zealand observers on the island. “The weather continues mostly fine, with occasional light showers/’ says Dr Adams. .“It is getting warmer. Conditions seem promising for the eclipse, and the sky is clear. In the lyst three weeks, 13 days have been ciear, and fight days cloudy The nartv is pujr.tisitog continually day and night testing adjustments, and taking trial plates for foc.u*. A full report of the eclipse will be sent. “The party will be leaving on October 23, on the United States naval minesweeper, Tanager, by courtesy of Commander Kepler, and all will return to Auckland by the Niagara. The Tofua passed Niaufou on Sunday and landed mails for those on the island. At the time of the eclipse 50 Americans will be here with the Tanager and Ontario, American naval ships, from Pago Pago. AH are well.”