ECLIPSE EXPEDITION

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1081, 19 September 1930, Page 1

ECLIPSE EXPEDITION

MORE FUNDS REQUIRED ADDITION TO THE PARTY The fund toward sending the party of six New Zealand scientists to observe the total eclipse of the sun at Nluafcu Island, is gradually mounting up, although as yet, a considerable sum is still required. As the result of a request for a donation, the Auckland City Council decided at its meeting last evening, on the motion of the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon, to assist the funds to the extent of £lO 10s. There is to be an addition to the party which will sail by the Niagara for Suva on Tuesday next. This is a young surveyor and a member of the Astronomical Society, Mr. P. L. Overton of North Canterbury. He will pay his own expenses, but will participate in the concessions granted to the expedition.

SCIENTISTS’ CHANCE

PHENOMENA OF THE SUN’S ECLIPSE MR F. R. FIELD’S VIEWS The eclipse of the sun next month, which will be observed at Tin Can Island by scientists from all parts of the world, including a party from New Zealand, was interestingly referred to by Mr. F. R. Field, the well-known Auckland observer, in the course of a lecture last evening. Speaking on “Secrets of the Sun.” Air. Field stated that the eclipse, which would occur on the morning of October 21, Greenwich time, or October 22, New Zealand time, would provide scientists with a unique opportunity of observing the solar corona, studying the polarity of the sun—which was a controversial subject among scientists—and to test the validity of Einstein’s theories. The lecturer indicated by blackboard diagrams the relative positions of the sun and the planets at the time of the eclipse. He pointed out that several planets would be opposed at the time, so that some interesting phenomena might be observed. Streams of energy, akin to electricity, and in the form of flames, technically known as “prominences,” would be observed radiating from the sun’s equator, and provided the local sky was clear, it was certain that these phenomena would be seen. However, weather conditions at tho island might be bad because of the relative position of the planet Uranus, which, during last week had been exerting an influence on New Zealand, with correspondingly unsettled weather conditions here. Discussing the sun’s polarity, !\lr. Field stated that there was an affinity bet wen the northern and southern hemispheres on the sun, and the same hemispheres here. He asserted that unsettled weather conditions and earthquakes in the southern hemisphere could be triced to corresponding disturbances in the same regions of the sun. “I do not think Einstein, in his theories, is making sufficient allowance for tie solar atmosphere surroupding the sun,” said Mr. Field. The lecturer went on to say that this solar atmosphere could be seen in the form of a discus almost 1.000,000 miles in extent. This atmosphere would have a prismatic effect, distorting the line of vision and causing a refraction, similar to that observed when a straight stick was inclined in water. Due allowance for the presence of this solar atmosphere would account for all the peculiarities noted in former eclipses