CONTACT WITH SUN

Grey River Argus, 30 January 1946, Page 5

CONTACT WITH SUN

, NEW RADAR FEAT Sydneyites Better Americans (Rec. 8.30) SYDNEY, Jan. 29. ■ Australian radio physicists claim to be the first in the world to establish radar contact with the sun. One physicist stated to-day that return signals of a special kind had been received by Australian scientists in Sydney. These signals were not normal echoes, as were those heard when radar contact was made with the moon, but they were “noise” waves which had been generated on the surface of the sun, oi' in the interior of the sun. An announcement that United States scientists had established radar contact with the moon was made on Thursday from Washington. RADAR GUIDES SHIPS LONDON, Jan. 28. A ship entirely navigated by radar has demonstrated her ability to thread a way through the crowded shipping lane of the Thames Estuary. She was an Admiralty ship, H.M.S. Pollux, and she can travel safely although her officers stand away from the compass and bridge, and no look-outs are posted. This was made possible by two discoveries. Firstly, a chart comparison unit which is aligned against the screen of a radar set, gives the position of the ship on the chart at a glance. Secondly, a new type of reflector is fitted to buoys to inincrease their radar response. It is claimed that they conquer the hazards of fog and mists for ships entering harbour. During a recent trip at ten knots, the Pollux threaded in and out.of a constant stream of river traffic. The buoys stood out on the chart and contrasted sharply with other shapes representing ships. The new method is not regarded as a substitute for normal methods of navigation but as an aid.