ECLIPSE OF THE SUN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21279, 5 September 1932, Page 10

ECLIPSE OF THE SUN

SUCCESS 0? OBSERVERS SOME ASTOUNDING RESULTS / I' OTTAWA, Sept. 2 A message from Hamilton, Ontario, etates that astoundingly successful results rewarded a band of scientists who studied the solar eclipse at Actonvale, Quebec, on ' Wednesday, after working unceasingly for many hotjrs on the combined computations of their totality data. The results yrere far beyond expectations. " The nucleus of the expedition was composed of members of the Hamilton branch of the ''Royal Astronomical Society. For three days the observers had glumly faced the prospect of a clouded eclipse. Then the clouds parted 10 minutes before the scheduled time for the eclipse, perfect visibility returning. Twelve phenomenally clear plates recording the totality were exhibited by General B. March when he stepped from the dark room where he had worked , alone at the delicate developing process. His confreres believe that these plates possibly are the only perfect record obtained,* in North America. Equally sensational, and of possible scientific portent, was the chrometric mesaurement of the totality duration at 90 seconds, or 12 seconds less than the McGill University and Ottawa astronomers had predicted for that locality, and beginning one second later than astronomical experience had dictated. This, the astronomers intimated, might mean that moon motions are not yet accounted for. Observation" of the corona streamer on the left showed a distinct curvature ol its arms, possibly a discovery of importance. The leader of the group, the Rev. Dr. D. B. aged 74, said: "It may be a year before we know absolutely, but our quest' may lead us into a very complete study. Whether we shall find anv.thing sensational, of course, we can only guess at the moment. It is indicated from our filter that we may have something, perhaps, which has not yet been found. It gives a certain different aspect of the yellow corona in a slightly different form 'than has been secured before. It may b.e a reflection, who can say ? But it may also be new elements."