NIUAFOU'S ECLIPSE

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 133, 2 December 1929, Page 12

NIUAFOU'S ECLIPSE

PLANS FOR EXPEDITION'

The island of Niuafou, or Tin Can U land is not where it used to be That is not to say that.it has mov«d from one place m the Pacific Ocean to another only that map makers have been in error in using observations made as long ago V °- I nJ ie" of n^t October's total eclipse of the sun. Niuafou has recently come into the limelight, and H.M.S. Ver<> nica has accurately fixed its position The new ooservations place the island fully » mile and a half from its present position on charts and maps. Fortunately this change of position is all to the good in respect of the eclipse, as the island becomes closer to the path of the centre of totality. This will give the eclipse party another three seconds for observations while the sun is totally eclipsed. Preliminary arrangements are progressing as regards the expedition to Niuafou Ihe New Zealand Government has accepted the offer of the Astronomer Royal ' Greenwich, lor the loan of necessary instruments. The fundamental instruments a coronagraph and a coelostat, will be packed forthwith and transported to New Zealand on the next available vessel The Government is to be asked if a warship could be made available to transport the expedition and instruments to the island and back, the normal steamer service being somewhat inconvenient. If this could be done, much time and inconvenience would be saved and the risk of breakage reduced.