THE SOLAR ECLIPSE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23213, 10 June 1937, Page 11

THE SOLAR ECLIPSE

SUCCESSFUL OBSERVATIONS FILMS TAKEN FROM PLANE (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) NEW YORK, June 8. (Received June 10, at 0.30 a.m.) Highly successful observations of the eclipse are reported from the mid-Pacific and Peru. Scientists aboard a steamer 1000 miles southwest of Honolulu lengthened the view of four seconds by speeding with the shadow. Films and photographs were also taken from an aeroplane five miles over Lima, from the Andean peaks, and from Canton Island Fearful Peruvian Indians tolled a bell and piped flutes after the fashion of their sun-worshipping Incan ancestors. CANTON ISLAND EXPEDITION SYDNEY. June 9. (Received June 10, at 1.30 a.m.) A radio message from the solar expedition says: " There was activity right throughout the night in both camps round the instruments. We had breakfast by lantern light. At sunrise all tha instruments were manned ready, and men from the Wellington and the Avecet arrived to assist with the observations. When heavy, dark clouds appeared anxiety prevailed. At dawn two rainbows appeared in the southern skies, and, with the rising sun, the sky cleared. Two large white American aerial kites were flying to attract black frigate birds, which were circling noisily. The gradual darkening brought back the birds to land The Americans state that the conditions were the most perfect for an eclipse that they had ever observed. The rapid darkening prior to the totality was accompanied by silence and birds nesting, the only sound being the voice of the announcer broadcasting a description of the eclipse to America and other countries. The totality lasted over three minutes, but was shorter than was calculated. The conditions were ideal, and a light wind did not vibrate the instruments." OBSERVED IN AUCKLAND CLEAR VIEW OF PHENOMENON (Per United Press Association; AUCKLAND, June 9. The partial eclipse of the sun which occurred this morning was visible in Auckland under prefect conditions, not a cloud being present to mar the view obtained by those whose interest in the phenonenon led them to climb to high localities in an effort to obtain the best possible view. Immediately the sun rose it was possible to see with the unaided eye that the lower portion of its surface was obscured by the moon. As the sun rose higher in the sky its brilliance increased and by the time the eclipse ended at 7.23 a.m. it was necessary for observers to use tinted or smoked glass to reduce the glare. Telescopically, the solar image was badly distorted at first owing to the great depth of the atmosphere through which it was viewed, but conditions shortly improved and before the final stages of the eclipse some fine sunspots could be witnessed on the sun's disc.