RADIO TIME SIGNALS

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 3479, 15 October 1926, Page 9

RADIO TIME SIGNALS

NEW ZEALAND INCLUDED. Starting October Ist, and extending over a period of two months, longitudinal wireless signals will be exchanged between a chain of observatories scattered round the globe, the Dominion Observatory in Wellington being one of the selected links in the chain. As a result of this intensive time signal interchange, it is anticipated that much valuable data will be acquired for subsequent use in astronomical and other scientific calculations, world longitude determination being one of the main reasons of the tests. These radio signals will be of the so-oalled rhythmic type, spaced so that there will bo 61 signals per minute for five minutes, making 30G in all. They will bo sent out at three periods of the day, as shown in the following table. The times given are Greenwich Mean Time, which is 111 hours slow on NewZealand time. Wave length. Greenwich.

The activities in which the Dominion Observatory arc most closely interested relate to the accurate determination of local Tune. This can be accomplished as accurately as instruments will allow, and that means reaching a. very high state of precision, by two methods of observation, each requiring very different instrumental corrections and (he, two combined giving very proviso determinations. These two i methods are observing the transit jof stars across the -Me rid an, and the "almucanlar method,” in which the 'telescope is (damped at the attitude jof the South Pole, the rising a.nd sotting or stars on tho horizontal circle thus formed being noted. Tiie results obtained by these observational methods will bo compared with the wireless time signals received, and the combination is expected to five extraordinarily accurate results. Tho incoming wireless time signals arc recorded with tho greatest possible accuracy by car as a rule, but the Dominion Observatory is going one better with an arrangement to record them automatically ns well. For this purpose tho military authorities have lent it the latest example of a. military soundranging apparatus, and this, it is anticipated, will be of great assistance in accurate recording by means of a photographic film.

Station. Metros. lean Time. h m to h m Annapolis , 17,145 20 10 20 15 3 10 3 15 10 10 10 15

Arlington or Bellvua (near Washlng'n) 74.7 & 24.9 20 20 20 2 5 3 20 3 25 10 20 10 25 Honolulu 11,500 20 30 20 35 3 30 3 35 10 30 10 35 Honolulu . 3G.8 20 40 20 45 3 40 3 45 10 40 10 45 Saigon i7,onn 11 30 11 35 and 25 19 00 19 05 Bordeaux IS, 900 8 01 8 Ofi 20 01 20 06 el’Issy (near Paris) 32 8 01 8 Ofi 20 01 20 06