BRITISH ASTRONOMERS TO STUDY SUN’S ECLIPSE FROM MALAY JUNGLE

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6805, 8 January 1929, Page 3

BRITISH ASTRONOMERS TO STUDY SUN’S ECLIPSE FROM MALAY JUNGLE

SEEKING TO DISCOVER SECRET OF THE ATOM. OBSERVATIONS ON MAY 9. Will the secret of the atom be revealed in the fastnesses of the jungle? If the hopes of four British astronomers, who arc now preparing an expedition to the Malay Peninsula, to study the total eclipse of the sun on May 9, arc fulfilled, a clue at least may be obtained, for while living the life of bushmeu the astronomers intend to attempt to measure tho temperatures and pressures of the gases around the sun, which cannot be reproduced in any laboratory. The four scientists, who haco been appointed by the joint permanent committee of the Royal Society and the Royal Astronomical Society, are Dr. J. Jackson and Mr. P. J. Melotte, of Greenwich, and Colonel F. J. M. Stratton and Dr. Carroll, of Cambridge. The belt of totality—the band of earth along which the full eclipse is visible—will stretch across tho north of Sumatra, the Malay J’eninsula, the Southern portion of lndo-China and the Philippine Islands to end in the Pacific. Dr. Jackson and Dr. Carroll (of the Solar Physics Laboratory, Cambridge) will make their headquarters at Alor Star, iu the Malay state of Kedah, on the western side of the Peninsula. Colonel Stratton and Mr. Melotte will earup near Pataui in Siam. At the eclipse in 1927 in England the astronomers worked in mackintoshes. This time sun-helmets and shorts will be tho order of the day. They only had twenty-four seconds in which to make (heir observations. This time they will have close on five minutes. It is probable that the King of Siam will visit the astronomers. Dr. Carroll and Colonel Stratton will carry out the spectroscopic observations which it is . hoped may assist scientists to understand something of tho constitution of the atom. Dr. Jackson and Mr. Melotte will attempt to reaffirm Einstein’s theory of relativity by what is known as the astronomical test.

“Einstein,” explains Mr. Melotte, “formulated three tests by which human beings could affirm his theory of a fourth dimensions. The first test was to prove that ray of light would bo diverted from its course if it passed close to . the sun. According to this theory we do not seo tho stars—we only see the from them. Therefore, while the eclipse is in progress wo shall take a photograph of the field of stars behind the sun, and immediately afterwards take another exposure on the samp plato of a field of stars some distance away. This will give us a scale to work by. “Three months later, when the sun is out of the way, we shall take two more exposures. A comparison of the two plates will prove to us the exact position of the stars in relation to light which appears to be tho stars.” _Tho photographs 'will bc„ taken oil 15-inch plates by Dr. Jackson with his 21-foot telescope, which has an aperture of seven inches.

In the meanwhile, Greenwich Observatory is in a tremendous bustle to complete the preparations for the expedition. To pack the giant telescope will alone take carpenters two months.