THE ECLIPSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18674, 2 October 1922, Page 6

THE ECLIPSE

AUSTRALIA'S GREAT DAY. A SUPERB SPECTACLE. SCIENTISTS’ SUCCESSFUL WORK. 3?som Cue Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, September 23. Yesterday the most majestic pageant of Nature was presented, and tho numerous parlies of scientific observers were fortunate enough to witness the solar eclipse under ideal conditions. All Australia saw tho eclipse, but tho pnHi of totality was only 100 miles wide, and those within that area who beheld tho spectacle describe it as one of incomparable and impressive grandeur. It is doubtful, many observers have stated, if the effect will over quite pass away from thoir minds, r.o startling was the nearness to the gigantic forces of Nature. Seldom, if ever, has so great a popular interest attached to the observation of too phenomenon of a solar eclipse as on this occasion. Never before, of course, ha® science been so well equipped to detect evidences W what is going on in space. Tho scientists lui-cl a wealth ol* personal experiences, ana of notes and photographs of eclipses seen from other parts of the world, to apprise them of what they might expect to sec and t-o catch on thoir cameras, and they had Also instruments which exceeded in number, delicacy, and accuracy any collection ever before directed to recording an eclipse. Although it probably will be several weeks before it is possible to discover the results of tho investigation into the Einstein theory, because of the necessary comparison of notes by tho whole of the observing parties in Australia, Professor Cooke, the Kew South "Wales Government Astronomer, expects to bo in a position to make a preliminary announcement within a week. A good account of the total eclipse was telegraphed from Stanthorpe to the Sydney Morning Herald. “The eclipse, it stales, “was viewed by the Stanthorpe expedition under the most perfect conditions possible, the clear sky and brilliant lighting reported earlier being maintained. Throughout tho whole sequence of wonderful ph<> nomena was watched by astronomers and private observers alike with hreath.ess, almost reverent, interest. All that had been written of the awe inspired by iho stealtny creeping of tho darkened disc of the moon over the great fiery orb was felt to be true, and one’s feelings were wrought upon in a manner which mud© one easily imagine now the tribes of the earth in olden times be-* lievod this to lie a dread portent of evil. Little wonder that to the ancients the interpretation of this stupendous spectimle was that “the gods of light were being devoured by the dragons of darkness To us tbe whole phenomenon, although a natural physical ©vent, created a most impressive feeling of tho smallness and frauty of the human equation. , . , “Tho penomenen can perhaps best he ctescribed in the proper sequence of events as seen from the observers’ lull. karly J * e afternoon a crowd of townspeople lined the frills and rocks around, the official observation post being reserved for the astronomers, pressmen, and photographers. The leader, Mr Gale, took up his post near his telescope and reflectors. Sketching parties were grouped at tho base of the granite outcrop below, and long before starting time every member was ready at his post. “The first contact was announced at 3.7.40, a few seconds later than the predicted time, which may he accounted for by the lack of larger optical instruments. Just afterwards tho little indention made by the approach of the moon was plainly seen with darkened glasses. The moon appeared to _ be biting into the base of {he sun’s disc a little to the left-hand side. All eyes were then for a. spue© fixed to the curious spectacle of the darkened orb of tbe moon as it cut out a beautifully and gradually increasing segment of the circle. It was curious then to follow the uprising moon as it impigned on the majestic disc of the sun, and marched rapidly upon a big sun spot, the apparently lone inhabitant of tho sun. It was noticed that tho wind, blowing in moderate gusts all day, quietly dropped away for a few minutes, to rise again after an interval. It came fitfully from the west, as if uncertain of its future action. At 3.20, or about 19 minutes alter the first contact, the advancing black edge of the moon had nearly reached the sun spot, and gave the appearance of a perfectly chiselled oval cut out of a yellow ball. Then, watched through a fin telescope, the little notch on the edge of the moon, really one of the lunar ranges, seemed to swallow at a gulp the lone sun spot. That occurred at 3.24, and then no diminution in the light was noticeable. The fitfulness of the breeze was still apparent a little later. AVhen half of the sun's disc was blotted out there was noticed the first reduction in the light, and shadows, appearing like images of the halfcovered sun, were seen in the light filtered through branches of trees upon the ground, It was curious to watch the changing shape of the illuminated image on the ground glass of the cameras. It was then, as the light perceptibly faded, that someone called attention to (ho crowing of cocks in the backyards of Stanthorpe. Tho information was greeted with incredulous laughter, but a few minutes later the regular chorus that arose from all points made it clear (hat the feathered tribe was alive to (ho gathering gloom. The sky still remained clear, with total absence of clouds, except for one or two little wisps low down on (lie western horizon. At 10 minutes to 4 tho brilliant lighting on the far hills began to fade, and faces about one took on rather a ghastly shade. Five minutes later the diminution of light seemed to be accelerated, and objects about the hill appeared in a pale, unnatural light, quite different to any illumination that one remembered. Tho weird sensation of the paling of the light on the face of the earth reacted on the nerves and made one curiously restless and uneasy. The air, too, at this time, a few minutes before totality, became strangely chill. Even quite ordinary natural phenomena appeared to be significant. The rustling of wind through the wattles and gums on the hillside iiad a suggestion of ghostliness. A stealthy breeze swept across the post, and the cry of a startled bush bird speeding homeward was all that could be heard. It reminded one of the line that “Foolish gnats creep in crannies when he hides .his beams.” The iron roofs of houses of Stanthorpe in the immediate foreground had long lost their brilliance, and were now of a dull orange tinge. When 4 o’clock arrived the landscape was fast losing its illumination, and from crag to crag of the granite hills there was tho same strange yellowish light, and near-by shadows were of an unearthly hue. At throe minutes past 4 the big gong sounded the warning to observers that only 10 minutes remained before the second contact or totality. The onward march of flic moon had already eaic-n a bigger slice out of tho brilliant disc, until now, a few minutes before totality, the great orb assumed the shape of a beautiful crescent, resting on its pointed horns. While it lasted it presented a very beautiful appearance, and glorious Venus shone, brilliantly high in the sky. The darkness now, although not blotting out the landscape, and ample for moving about and adjusting cameras, was of a most peculiar quality. At 4 minutes to go before totality tho hill and surrounding country seemed to be wrapped in moonlight, and as minutes were beaten on the gong the western landscape was overwhelmed by the ominous darkness, although, looking eastward, the hills were silhouetted fairly sharply against a comparatively bright sky. The wind rose sharply near the instant of totality, hut never blew with tho velocity of an how* or two earlier. “ Then the great moment arrived, and all was hushed in expectation. The great shadow of tho moon seemed for an instant to be suspended below the western sky and then swept instantaneously outwards, enveloping the earth in its dark wings. The curious shadow bands were seen by sharp observers passing rapidly • on the light coloured rocks and white sheets spread for the purpose. They were described as resembling telephone wires running along (he surface and disappearing as quickly as they came. At the moment of totality there appeared to be a flash which denoted the changing of the black absorption lines of tho spectrum into the bright colours at the edge of the sun’s disc. This is called the flash spectrum, and cameras were snapped on the instant, “ Then the most superb spectacle—the culmination of the whole tremendous celestial pageant—flashed out. The streamers of (ho corona rushed outward in all their glory from the upper and lower edges of the- dark disc, and their pearly radiance made an impression of magnificence on tho grandest scale imaginable. The streamers appeared to radiate to a distance of nearly twice the diameter of the sun, but were not observable lo either side which would represent tho poles. This is the usual observed disposition of the corona at such an eclipse. There worn no prominences scon, although some curious formations not unlike Daily’s Bends, wore reported by several observers. The great flaming* corona made a huge torch in the western sky, but above were plainly visible the planets Jupiter and Mercury, and tho star Spies. Through all was death-like silence, although on the hill's summit photographers worked at high speed, exposing their plates to the luminous streamers on tho left hand side of the coronal streamers. Flashing out from (he top of the darkened sun was one of great length, and bent outwards like, (ho curved petal of a flower. Tho flaming corona would probably represent hnndieds of thousands of miles in height. The brilliance of tho spectacle was maintained m it,a maximum grandeur until the end. "The only regret one, had was that the fleeting seconds rung out by the hammer of the swinging gong passed all too quickly. AVhen one 'stood amazed at Hie gorgeous pyrotechnic display provided by the good offices of our satellite in harmony with tho enn and waited for more, suddenly a wonderfully brilliant sheet of light cut through

tho darkened edge of the moon. Then one heard, as in a dream, a voice alongside exclaim, ‘lt’s all over.’ It was true enough; the radiance of the corona was no more, and instead the first streak of sunlight flashed from under the moon. One looked round bewildered, and it was a moment or two before one realised that the eclipse of 1922 was but for the final phase a thing of the past. The sensation was similar to one emerging from the darkened interior of a theatre during the matinee into the sunlight of late afternoon.