GLORY OF THE STARS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22615, 31 December 1936, Page 6

GLORY OF THE STARS

HEAVENS IN JANUAKY THE RECENT ECLIPSE SUCCESS OF LOCAL PARTIES ' BY CHUX AUSTRAEI9 The recent annular eclipse of the Sun, so successfully observed through, out the Auckland Province, provided the first real testing of the ability 0 f local amateur Annular eclipses are so rarely seen in any one locality that for most if not ail the amateurs it was the first occasion on which thcv had viewed such an eclipse Long prior to the eclipse the p re . liminary details were being studied and observational programmes " planned. It came as a complete surprise to most of the amateurs that the Bailey's Beads and shadow bands might be visible. Most of the preliminary planning wa« carried out by the solar section of the New Zealand Astronomical Societv while the computing section also played a valuable part in determining the times of the phenomenon for a large number of stations, both inside and beyond the zone of annular eclipse. Independent Parties The various eclipse expeditions also were largely the result of amateur effort. Even the official party which was stationed at Pukekohe had only one professional astronomer in its ranks, the personnel being composed mainly of members of the New Zealand Astronomical Society.

Perha| is the most gratifying feature of tin; eclipse, from an Auckland point of view, was the success attending, the efforts of the three independent parties belonging to the Auckland Astronomical Society. This society has long performed useful service in educating the public and providing local amateur •

I astronomers with a common interest j in astronomy. ()nly**in the past rear i lias active astronomical observation been undertaken, and it is a great tribute to the astronomical calibre of its members that each party was highly successful. Solar Photography In spite of the fact that solar photography was a new field to all, i photographic equipment was con- | struc-ted for the recording of various j stages of the eclipse. The problems ! of focussing and correct exposure were ! solved, and very successful photographic I records of the eclipse were secured, j Professor Burbidge's party made a | cinematographic record of the eclipse, I from which, in addition, very accurate | timing of the various contacts is ex- | pected.'ln the heart of the city beautii fully clear photographs of all stages ! were secured by a second party, while | in Epsom the rare phenomenon of the j Bailey's Beads was recorded, while in ; one photograph the moon's edge can | be seen faintly outlined against tie | solar atmosphere, an instant before the j stage of annular eclipse began. Need for Observatory

The ali'.iity of Auckland's amateur astronomers to carry out such valuable and "careful astronomical researches having been amply demonstrated, it is to be hoped that Auckland will soon be favoured with an efficient telescone

housed in a modern observatory building. where amateur astronomers of the district will be able to conduct research of the same high standard on other lines than eclipses.

The existence of an observatory in | Wellington has proved a valuable | stimulus to amateur effort in tha; city, while smaller towns like Wanga- ! nni and New Plymouth also boast their public observatories. The provision of an observatory in Auckland has long been one of the main objectives of the local astronomical society, and it is hoped that now that the Auckland amateur astronomers have revealed their ability, some public-spirited citizens «ill offer to establish a modern observatory here. Phenomena for Month The Sun will bf 1 in the constellation Sagittarius until January 19, when it will pass into Capricornus. Its noon altitude at Auckland will decrease during the month frcni 76 degrees to 70} degrees. During the month the Moon will be in conjunction with the various planets as follows: —Mars, 6th, 4 p.m.; Jupiter, 12th, 5 a.m.; Venus, 17th, 3 a.m.; Saturn, 17th, -i p.m. Mercury during January will be too close to the Sun for observation, being in inferior conjunction on the 14th. \ enus remains a brilliant object far removed from the Sun in the western evening sky. Mars, still at a great distance from the Earth, remains visible only during the last half of the night, while Jupiter also lies in the morning sky. Saturn is the outstanding object of interest in January. Last Tuesday its narrow ring, system was expected to disappear frorc view for the second time in 1936. tlif Sun shining on the southern side ol' the rings, while the Earth remains ot the northern side of the rings, which, being unlit, are invisible. The rings will not reappear again until February 21. when the Earth will pass from tlio unlit to the lighted side of the ringplane.