The Solar Eclipse.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 18, 3 May 1911, Page 6

The Solar Eclipse.

The solar eclipse of April 29, 1911, has •onie and gone, and if the atmospheric conditions in the vicinity of the little Island of Vavai. and at other points along the line of totality from which scientific observations are being made, ■were as good as prevailed this morning in Auckland, it is to be presumed that the big expenditure of money and valuable time will have been amply rewarded, and that records and data will have been gathered for adding to the sum of knowledge concerning the centre of the solar system, which will set this day of grace among ttstronoinical scientists as the beginning of a new era. Great were the hopes and elaborate the preparations in connection with the last eclipse, but when the few short minutes arrived during which the total phase occurred, all was ruined by elouds, and the disappointed scientists had to betake themselves from Tasmania to thuir various destinations with what fortitude they might, and possess themselves in patience for the eclipse just passed. It is to be sincerely hoped, therefore, that the various parties of learned men who have jourheyto those little islands out in the Pacific with the object of adding to the sum of human knowledge about King Sol, will have been favoured by perfect weatherconditions, and will return with their fullest hopes of achievements realised.

In Auckland on Saturday the conditions were distinctly favourable for observing the partial eclipse which occurred here. With the aid of a piece of smoked glass the moon’s outline, which made its appearance on the disc a little before half-past seven, could be distinctly noted in its progress without interruption, until at the height of the eclipse the sun himself shone in the heavens as a brilliant crescent, with about seven-tenths of his bulk hidden by the body of the moon. The few clouds that occasionally sailed across the faces enabled till* occultation,to be observed with the naked eye. During the time of greatest totality the light appreciably diminished, and at one time, aided by a fairly dense cloud, Ayas reduced for a minute or two almost to a gloaming. The whole phenomenon was over by about half-past nine, When the moon's limb passed off the lower edge of the sun's disc. Mr; J. T. Stevenson, F.R.A.S., supplies tis with file following particulars:—The eclipse was observed’Hinder fairly good weather conditions, but owing to clouds tho beginning could not be observed; the end occurred punctually at the calculated time. During the progress of the eclipse three sunspots were noticed on -the sun's disc, and these the moon passed over as the eclipse advanced; two of the spots' were rather conspicuous objects. Several mountains were visible on the moon’s edge, and one depression on the edge was also visible.