IN DEEPEST SHADOW

Otago Witness, Issue 3823, 21 June 1927, Page 23

IN DEEPEST SHADOW

MOON’S TOTAL ECLIPSE. WIDESPREAD PUBLIC INTEREST. Dunedin awaited with considerable eagerness the coming of darkness on Wednesday. As daylight began to fail and the street lamps twinkled on the hills, business men hurriedly closed their ledgers, housewives deserted their kitchens. and amateur astronomers secured posts of vantage in ail parts of the city. A total eclipse of the moon, of unusual duration and visibility, had been promised by those whose fascinating business it is lo calculate and foretell coming events in tho heavens. It was timed to begin at 5.4 p.m., and as the sky donned its dusky mantie, thousands of eves were turned eastward to the heavy cloud banks that topped the Peninsula hills. No one doubted that the eclipse would take place. Science is known to be so closely informed as to the moon’s travels that a mistake is well nigh impossible. Likewise there was little fear that the eclipse would be premature, or delayed. But the question of visibility was another matter, and tho cloud bank grew no lighter as the time drew near.

Earlier in the week the nights nad been clear and cloudless, and the moon had travelled unconcernedly across the sky in full view. For a time last evening it hid coyly behind scurrying masses as though loth to embrace the oncoming shadow of the earth.

At the stipulated time the moon was still hidden, but a faint silvery reflection was visible above the clouds, and the watchers remained expectantly at their posts.

Half an hour later a clear patch of sky appeared, and there was the moon, sail ini' serenely on its course. According to the astronomical programme it had. by this time, been in (he penumbra for about three-quarters of an hour, but to the lay eye nothing very unusual was taking place. But as the minutes passed the stray clouds that scudded across its shining face became ht with a strange and beautiful coppercoloured radiance an entrancing halo of golden brown, signalling the coining of the SllcLuOW.

Onlookers were delighted. Everything was happening according to the detailed prediction, and conditions pointed to improved visibility as the evening wore on. Then approximitely at 6.13 p.m. the moon entered the umbra, or in other words the first portion of the shadow became visible. The beautiful coppery glow was still apparent, and lit the background of cloud with deeper hue as the shadow advanced. From then.on visibility was intermittent and to the disappointment of all the cloud curtain descended suddenly at the moment of the total eclipse. When the moon was last in sight before the shadow hid it completely a slim crescent could be discerned. The Dunedin time was then 7.40 p.m., whereas the programme gave the moment of the total eclipse as 7.34 p.m. Timing .was, however, an extremely uncertain business, and it is more than probable that the calculations of the authorities got much nearer to the truth - than the interrupted vision of the onlookers.

During the remainder of the evening the progress of the eclipse was followed as closelv as conditions permitted, and nt intervals, excellent views of the shadowed moon wero obtained. The many who remained on the lookout were amply rewarded, and the unusual spectacle was, if anything; made, more tantilising by the continual hide-and-seek with the cloud curtains. An observatory report sunplied to us covers the progress of the eclipse from an official point of view. At the Beverly-Begg Observatory about 20 persons viewed the lunar eclipse under the direction of members of the committee. Although the sky was partly overcast, the advancing shadow on the moon's surface was . seen clearly at intervals, and the distribution of the copper-coloured tints on the eclipsed portions was noted. Unfor.tunately, during the total phase clouds intervened, and little was seen. CONDITIONS IN THE NORTH. WELLINGTON, June 15. Observers to-night had a clear view of the eclipse of the moon. The few light clouds ip the sky were not sufficient, to obscure the moon in the slightest. Tho moon was totally eclipsed AUCKLAND. June 16. Perfect conditions obtained last evening for viewing the eclipse of the moon. The reddish or copper colour observed was the most distinct colour that has been visible in the eclipsed moon for some vears. BLENHEIM, June 16. A splendid and uninterrupted view of the eclipse of lhe moon was obtained in Blenheim last night. The sky was entirely free from clouds, and the atmosphere crystal clear. At totality the moon presented a smoky appearance, as though seen through a glass darkly, and was not entirely blotted out.