ASTRONOMERS WORK SIX YEARS TO INSURE ACCURATE CALENDAR

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6867, 23 March 1929, Page 8

ASTRONOMERS WORK SIX YEARS TO INSURE ACCURATE CALENDAR

SAVANTS OF FIVE LEADING NATIONS. CO-OFERATE ON TASK. LONDON, Feb. 14. la view of tbc strong possibility that the calendar may be simplified by the international conference of government delegates which is to be invited by the League of Nations not later than the spring of 1930, some facts of calendar making by the ‘Fixed Calendar’ League, may be interesting. Few who buy their yearly calendar know that six years’ co-operativo work by the best astronomers in fivo leading nations is necessary to ensure its accuracy. Thus the- first calculations for 1933 were begun in August. 1927, by experts in Greenwich Observatory and the Nautical Almanac Office. They work out for all nations the right ascension and declination of tho sun, moon, and 84 of the fixed stars at each of tho 24 hours of each day in t'he year. In August, 1925, these were printed and sent to the directors of the national observatories in the United States, Germany, France and Spain. The United States astronomers work out for all nations tho eclipses of the sun and moon and the hourly position of the planets with their satellites. Germany calculates the hourly position for 307 of the fixed stars below the celestial arctic circle to the tropic of Cancer. France works out the positions for the polar stars within tho arctic circle and Spain takes 65 of the more southerly stars. These four national directors having printed their results about 11 years later send copies to each other and to Greenwich where they are combined in the Nautical Almanac for 1933. This is printed and sent to tho directors of geodetic offices of all nations to enable them to work out the tide tables for their own portls ready for issue to calendar makers by the beginning of 1932 so that calendars for 1933 may be ready during the last months of 1932. Evidence gathered by the League of Nations shows that it is probable that from 1933 the last day in each year will, by international treaty, be *““de “Year Day,” as an extra rest day, thus giving the last week of the year an eighth day for year-end festivities, etc.

The Fixed Calendar League advocates the fixing of New Year's Day on a Sunday. Thus the beginning of thd yfcar, Christmas Day, and tho first day of the month and week would all fall on Sunday.