ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LIII, Issue 9480, 3 December 1907, Page 7

ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

PARTY OF ASTRONOMERS.

Amongst the arrivals in Auckland during the past week was Mr F. K. McClean, F.R.A.S., of Tunbxidge Wells, England, who journeyed to the ' Antipodes to -witness the eclipse of the sun, taking place on Jamuary 3rd. As neither the society's nor the Government observatories cared to incur the cost and risk of disappointment in such an enterprise, JNir McClean, who is an, amateur astronomer, decided to make the trip himself. The 1 eclipse will only be visible at two islands in Polynesia, and one of these — Flint Island, 400 miles north of Tahitiis the goal of the party, which is to include, besides Mr McClean,, a number of Sydoaey residents. Several visitors from the Lick Observatory, Americe, under Professor Campbell, will also proceed there. The actual time of the eclipse (4min 6sec totality) will be occupied in taking photographs, and for this purpose a number of first-class instruments have been brought out by Mr McClean, including a skterostat (light feeding), a 4£ft focal length spectroscope, amd a 9ft focal length camera, besides, smaller hand cameras. How much the success of the expedition depends up on the weather may be gauged irom the fact that rough weather may prevent a landing, and cloudy weather would prove disastrous to the results. Mir McClean, on his return to Auckland, leaves for China, Japan, and) the United States, visiting the chief observatories an the latter country on his way to England.