WHEN DARKNESS GOMES

Lake Wakatip Mail, Issue 3715, 19 October 1926, Page 2

WHEN DARKNESS GOMES

TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE SUN COMING EVENT IN ENGLAND Professor H. H. Turner, the wellknown astronomer of Oxford University, made an appeal to the public at the recent meeting of the British Association at Oxford to help in securing records of the total eclipse track which will cross England from Southport to West Hartlepool on June 29 next year. He gave a picturesque description of tho wonderful scene as it will unfold itself after sunrise on the English coast. The speaker said that under the most favorable conditions the shadow of tho sun cast by our tiny moon only just reached the earth with its pencil point, which described a narrow track on the earth’s surface ns moon and earth moved. To see the eclipse total an observer must, be within this track. The various tracks might neglect a given region for centuries, or may cross it several times within a limited period. For 200 years England had not been so favored, nor would they again be so favored, after next year’s event, lor another 200 years at least. But on June 29, 1927, those who stationed themselves on this line would see the sun totally eclipsed soon after rising. “To get up at sunrise is no hardship at that time of year, and those who take this unique opportunity will never regret it if tho weather is fine,” said Ihe professor, who added: “They will sco the sun’s wonderful corona, the outlying parts of him never seen in ordinary daylight, nor at a merely partial eclipse. Astronomers will be busy photographing it in various ways, and should not bo disturbed, as there are on I v twenty to twenty-five precious seconds in which to do their work. But anyone can see it from wherever the sun may bo visible, and tho sight is one never to be forgotten. If they like to help the astronomers they can do so by noting with a good stop-watch how long totality lasts, with particulars of their exact position on the ordnance map, or they can note what stars and planets are visible, and when; and they cun do this in either ol two ways—(a)*by ascertaining beforehand where such bright objects are likely to be, or (b) by trusting entirely to such objects forcing themselves ou their attention. Method (b), by trusting entirely to such objects forcing themselves on their attention, is perhaps the more useful of tho tno, loi it approaches more nearly to tho conditions in old records, which wo desue to interpret in tho light of modern knowledge,bbuyt y it should be carefully stated which method is adopted. “Tho occasion is, however, to bo regarded as an opportunity for seeing a wonderful spectacle, which is to ho seen in England only this once in several centuries, and the most urgent duty ol a patriotic English man or woman is to help all kinds of people, especially children, to see it if they possibly can. No clay’s work need be lost by those near the track, for tho eclipse is very earlv iu the morning; but those in the South of England or in Scotland should have sufficient holiday given them for the purpose of getting to the. line of eclipse if any way possible, or also help with train fares, etc. Loyal citizens should organise expeditions irom their cities. , Unfortunately, there is no way of avoiding the risk of disappointment by the weather. This, if it comes, must be taken with British pluck, but everyone ought to go ahead, just as though fine weather were assured. During the war astionomers felt that they ought to observe the eclipse of 1919 for the Einstein effect, and they went ahead just as though the war were certain to be over iu time, though it looked quite hopeless. That is the only reasonable way.” Professor Turner added that Professor Newall had suggested that it would be well to obtain money to purchase ceolostats to enable Major Stratton, who bad so successfully conducted the British eclipse expedition to Sumatra. to obtain the best results next year. At Cambridge Professor Newall bad an anonymous, but well-known, benefactor who had provided Cambridge’s share of the money, and he had pleasure in announcing that Lord Lee’s fund for Oxford University was now complete. Ho banded to Major Stratton a cheque for one of those reflectors—an event which created great enthusiasm among those present.