TILL AUGUST

Southland Times, Issue 20664, 20 April 1929, Page 7

TILL AUGUST

SUN DISAPPEARS

THE LONG ANTARCTIC NIGHT

BARRIER PARTY’S EXPERIENCE

(By Russell Owen. Copyright 1929 by the New York Times Company and the St. Louis Post-Despatch.) (All rights for publication reserved through-

out the world.) (Wireless to New York Times.)

(Rec. 5.20 p.m.) Bay of Whales', April 18. The sun disappeared from our camp yesterday. It crawled along the horizon formed by the barrier to the north round a ball of dull fire as if seen through a thin haze, and slid slowly out of sight. To-day the upper part of it might have appeared again, but there were clouds in the northern sky and only a red spot crept westward. It grew fainter as it went away, leaving a chill sunset. It. may be visible for a day or two more from the barrier top or bay ice, but it will be next August before it shines again on our little hollow. It has left a long twilight, an eerie, grey light which, almost imperceptible, fades into night. This light will be with us in the middle of the day for some time. It is curious that our sunset is in the north now and that in the south, where the golden rays used to light the rolling barrier surface, is a grim, black line of anproaching night. With the going of the sun the cold has increased, and last night it was again 40 degrees below zero. It was a calm, clear night with the Aurora blazing overhead. It is a magnificent and mysterious glow, palpitating as if alive and sending its shivering curtains and streamers across the sky. This occurs almost even’ nitrht. and a nightwatchman lias been appointed to watch its volume, direction and character.

The Aurora has probably been responsible for some radio vagaries which occurred recently. Harry Gould, for instance, wished to communicate with the University of Michigan, but. found it was easier to reach Michigan through the universitv’s short wave station at Mount Evans (Greenland) than direct.

It is hoped that it will be possible during the periods of darkness at Mount Evans and Little America to compare the auroral phenomena by ijndio and learn something new about it. For instance, it has never yet been possible to know whether it occurred simultsneously at both Poles.