CLOUD OBSCURES ECLIPSE OF SUN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18045, 4 January 1927, Page 9

CLOUD OBSCURES ECLIPSE OF SUN.

PHENOMENON PROVES BIG DISAPPOINTMENT. ASTRONOMERS UNABLE TO SEE GREATEST PHASE. A partial eclipse of the sun took place between the hours of 5.34 and 7.59 a.m. to-day. The phenomenon, which had bee.u awaited with interest, was a great disappointment as the sky during practically the whole of the eclipse was cloud)*, making visibility extremely hard. The evening and the early morning were full of promise, for during those periods the sky was clear, not a wisp of cloud being visible anywhere; but about 4.30 o'clock this morning an east wind sprang up, blowing heavy mist in from the sea. By 5 o’clock the sky was overcast with' gradually increasing cloud, and at 5.30 visibility was almost impossible. By careful watching for rifts in the clouds early risers, with smoked pieces of glass or coloured spectacles, were able to get short glimpses of the phenomenon, but these were so short that it was impossible to make any satisfactory observations. A few minutes before six o’clock the black arc of the. moon was seen clearly silhouetted against the surface of the sun and moving slowly across it. The eclipse had then been in progress for about twenty minutes and for about five minutes hope ran high that the sky would clear, enabling the eclipse at its greatest phase to be seen: but heavier cloud than ever was carried across the sky, blotting out the eclipse entirely and making observation of its greatest phase impossible. There was nothing to be seen and disappointed astronomers put away their instruments, hoping for better luck next time. After the eclipse had reached its greatest phase it became visible again for brief intervals between passing clouds, but the ending, like the beginning and the greatest phase, was

obscured from view. During the time when the eclipse was at its height there was no diminution of light. Although they were unable to witness the eclipse at its greatest phase. Mr 11. F. Skev. Director of the Christchurch Observatory, and Mr P. W. Glover, of Canterbury College, stated this morning that 6.8 of the sun’s surface was obscured by the eclipse. The partial eclipse which took place in 1916, at its maximum phase covered O.G of the sun’s surface. “ For the first time in 209 years,” said Mr Skey, “they are having a total eclipse of the sun in England, and I suppose we will have one in New Zealand some day, but I don’t think I will be in a position to bother about it when it does come.” How Eclipses Occur. Interviewed this morning, Mr P. W. Glover, of the Canterbury College laboratory, told how an eclipse of the sun by the arioon occurs and explained the reason for the annular and total eclipses. "If the earth, the sun and the moon were in the sardc plane," said Mr Glover, “we would have an eclipse every month.” These bodies, however, come back to the same relative position every eighteen years and ten days and at that interval the same eclipses "That period was called the siros,' lie went on. “and was known to the Chaldeans and the Greeks and used by them in the prediction of eclipses. When the moon is furthest from the earth the cone of the. shadow is not long enough to reach the earth and so it appears smaller than the sun and we have an annular eclipse. When the moon is closer to the earth the shadow is long enough to reach past, the earth and so the moon appears larger than the sun and we have a total eclipse. Total eclipses arc very rare in any one particular place. The last visible in England was in 1715 and the next is this year. There cannot be less than two eclipses of the sun in any one year. “The eclipse to-day.” continued Mr Glover, "was an annular eclipse the track of the annulus crossing the northern extremity of New Zealand, North Cape and Russell, and just missing Cape Runawav and East (’ape. In Christchurch it was a partial eclipse of magnitude 0.8, that is eight-tenths of the sun was covered at the greatest phase. The whole phenomenon was badly obscured by cloud, the beginning. the greatest phase and the end being invisible on that account. The eclipse commenced at about 5.40. Ihe greatest phase was at about G. 40, and the ended at about 7.35. Effect on Barbaric Races. "The barbaric peoples," said Mr Glover, "were very afraid of eclipses. Two ancient nations, the Lydians and Medes, who were engaged in a war about 000 8.C., were, on the point of commencing a battle when a total eclipse took place. At sight of the phenomenon both parties threw down their arms and made peace. Columbus got out of difficulty with American natives through ail eclipse Ihe ancient Chinese were great observers ol eclipses. . It: is recorded that two astronomers were executed for tailing to predict an eclipse of the sun. WITH THE NAKED EYE. Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, January 4. Clouds greeted the partial eclipse of this sun this morning but breaks now and again permitted a view of. how the eclipse was progressing. At times they were of advantage in enabling obserration by the naked eye. METEOROLOGIST DID NOT SEE ECLIPSE. Per Press. Association. WELLINGTON, January 4. The Government meteorologist, Dr Adams, has sent a message from Russell. saving ‘hat it was raining and he did Ia 'I lie v hp-r