ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16846, 23 September 1922, Page 18

ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.

; PERFECT OBSERVATIONS. SCIENTISTS HOPEFUL. By Telegrapn—Press Association—Copyright Australian ancl X.Z. Cable Association. SYDNEY, September 21. According to the Sydney C'bserva--1 tory the first contact of the eclipse j g i came ten seconds earlier than the com- j 1 puted time, Avhile the Stanthorp© party i | reported it between three and four j ’ 1 seconds later than computed time, and > - again, the AVallal party reports the ! - duration of totality about four seconds , . shorter than that predicted. These dis- j ! crepancies are expected to be corrected j _ j when the details have been Avorked out, | and the necessary comparisons made. Descriptions from the totality zone • j speak of a Aveird yellowish light cast j upon the earth in the later phases, { s- which greAv to darkness with totality, | , Avail© along the distant horizon the : r hills were seen silhouetted against a j l comparatively bright skv. A death- ! like stillness prevailed everywhere. The i . ' sight presented of the immense stream- , of impressive magnificence. Then, sud- } denly, a, wonderfully brilliant sheet of 3 light cut through the darkened edge of the moon. The radiance of the corona 3 Avas dimmed and the first streak of suns light flashed out and all wvas overf The scientists expect that with their neAv appliances and the modern scientific methods employed the results will t be far in advance of anything prev- _ iously procured. Particular attention , lias been given to what is known as f the shadow bands, the display of which p was exceptionally clear. A striking and 1 | exhaustive series of photographs lias been procured. These, it is consid- . ored should go a long Avay to elucidate 1 this branch of solar eclipse work, about ? which there was formerly considerable ? doubt. At Wallal about one hundred photographs of A-nrious features hearing on r the Einstein theory Avere receteed. The l temperature there during totality fell from 97 degrees to 883 degrees. The 1 natives around, the scientists’ camps , shoAved considerable fear and hid theml selves in the bush until the sun rep turned. t w J USE OF NEW INSTRUMENT. 1 j 1 By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright 1 Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. ' (Received September 23. 11.15 a m.) 5 BRISBANE. September 23. • Various sections of the observing » parties at Stanhope are comparing >• data. 1 Air Gale, the leader of the party, stated that he observed at least twenty ’ brilliant crescents scattered along the L background of the spectrum. He recog- * nised hydrogen, sodium, magnesium, ’ calcium, and helium by their characterL istic bright lines. Father Figott, 1 Riverview, says that he used a new 1 instrument procured from Washington for solar radiation observation, a pyroi meter. He got full results and measurements of the solar sky -aa-itVi loss of ' heat and incoming radiation. I SEEN FROM THE SEA. I > JAPANESE CREW’S FEARS. ' By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright Australian am! N.Z, Cable Association. l (Received September 23, 12.5 p.m.) 1 BRISBANE September 23. \ The chief officer of a steamer which ’ has just arrived said that the passengers obtained a fine sight of the eclipse. The Japanese crew became [ greatly excited and concerned at their 5 sun “ going dead.’’