OBSERVATION OF ZODIACAL LIGHT AT AKAROA.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1885, 20 October 1913, Page 5

OBSERVATION OF ZODIACAL LIGHT AT AKAROA.

Miss Mary Proctor, who lias just re- jf turned from the south, gives the fol- s lowing account of her recent experience (it Akaroa, where sho made a prolonged visit for the purpose ol' making ff special observations of tho Zodiacal f Light. This is a faint light somewhat resembling tho Milky Way, which can j bo seen during the months of Septem-; | ber and October, in tho western sky j B about .two hours after sunset. Its apparent form is nearly that of a cone, ! with its base towards tho sun,, and I p its axis situated nearly in tho plane i | of tho ecliptic. Tho distanco to which | t the Zodiacal Light extends varies from | 20 degrees to 80 degrees, but in this | , instance was only some 30 degrees above | tho horizon, reaching upward 'to tho jj south of the stars in the constellation of v tho Scorpion. Its breadth at its base a perpendicular to its length was about 3 2o degrees, brightest'part being near f the sun, and of a bluish-green glow, | blending with the opal and greyish tinge 1 of tho upper part of the cone. Unfor- ii tunately, tho light of itlie crescent moon r S inado it somewhat diflicu.lt to traco tho 8 outline of tho iaint Zodiacal. Light in | consbquenco, but by b'eroening tho eyes 3 lrom its glow by holding a book be- jj tween them and the moonlight, it was •! possible to make fairly good observa-. I tions. . (a Between 7 and 7.30 o'clock the,light became more diffuse and distinct, tho | northern side of the coiie. being dis- a tinetly ' brighter than tho southern. $ ?ni wcre e arched stars of the j .Milky Way, reaching from the nortliern to tho southern horizon, forming a i magnificent framework, enclosing die /.odiacal Light, the crescent moon, and jS the planet Jupiter, while almost over- | head and drifting, westward gleamed the | starry outline of the Scorpion. Beneath | lay Akaroa, with its mountain peaks ' | and beautiful harbour across Which the 1 moonlight was casting its pale shimmer. I Unfortunately, however, tho Zodiacal « Light was fast fading in tho glare of this same light, and by eight o'clock was no longer to be seen. • For a while longer a party of six watched tho stars, • and then tramped homeward from tho summit of Brazen Rose Peak, where they had made their observations, weary, yet satisfied that their efforts had been worth while. "We had started from Akaroa about five, o clock," stated Miss Proctor, "arriving at the peak shortly after sunset. Whilo_ awaiting the appearance of tho Zodiacal Light, which does not becomo visible until two hours after sunset, wo sat around a iiio of blazing logs which had been lighted by tho more cnergetio members or the party, and enjoyed a hearty supper, sinco our-tramp up tho mountain had given a keen edge to our appetite. The weird cry of the weka, which has been compared to the cry of tho lost souls by the Maoris, and tho distant murmur of the ocean wero the only sounds which disturbed tho stillness of that quiet 1 spot, remote from haunts oi men. It was a picnic .by night instead of by day, and a uniauo experience I shall always .treasure among my memories of New - Zealand. Sly only regret is that I did not take tho trip to Akaroa a month earlier when' the Zodiacal Light can be ' seen a.t its best, but from present prosjiects/nt seems very likely that my departure from this part of' tiio world may bo delayed "sufficiently to afford me an. opportunity for again observing this phenomena, and under better conditions. Tho observation should be made in Sop- , y teniber, and on a moonless night, when tho Zodiacal Light is at its best." Sirry Pasha, Minister of Public Works,' in an. interview which the "Egyptian Mail" lias published, denies the reports of leaks in the Assouan Dam. "The dam," he says, "is the safest in the world, and will last until Egypt is a i rainy country."