Impending Eclipse of the Sun.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 29 April 1910, Page 4

Impending Eclipse of the Sun.

PREPARATIONS TO OBSERVE I'l

Ihe total eclipse of the sun, which takes place on .May 9th, is to be observed by Australian astronomers. It will be seen a.s a partial eclipse over the whole of Australia and the northern halt ol Tasmania, but the only portion of the globe from which the phase of totalitv may be seen is that part of Tasmania which lies south of an imaginary line running across the State trom Cape Bougainville on the past coast to Harbour Signals on tV. west coast. Along this line the duration of totality will be only momenta!}, but will gradually increase at localities further south, and will last from nearly three to three and a-lialf minutes at such places at IFobart, Brune Island and others. Previous total eclipses have been observed bv special scientific countries, but on this occasion these countries are not despatching any official expeditions, owing partly to the low altitude of the sun at the time of the eclipse, and the probability of bad weather. Another factor is that a more* promising eclipse takes place next year l for the observation ol which European and American astronomers are already preparing to .send expeditions to the Tonga, islands.

An Eclipse Committee has been appointed by the Australasian Association lor the Advancement of Science to organise ail expedition of Australian astronomers to observe the eclipse, and the New Zealand representative 011 this committee is Dr Coleridge .F arr, of Canterbury College. An official expedition from the Melbourne observatories has fllso been invited to join. Experienced astronomical observers have also been invited to attend, and it is hoped that persons without very special astronomical training will also attend, as they will be able to secure interesting records of eclipse phenomena by means of ordinarily moderate-sized cameras, small ordinary telescopes mounted 011 tripods, or even without instruments.

The Tourist Association in Hobart lias undertaken to look after those observers, to organise them into parties, and to direct them into suitable observation, localities. Travelling concessions to bone-fide visitors to Tasmania for eclipse purposes have been granted by the shining companies, and the Commonwealth railways, and New Zealanders wishing to obtain, the benefit of these concessions are directed to apply to Dr Fnrr for the necessary coupons. The summit of Mount Wellington (Hobart) will afford a magnificent view of tfhe eclipse, and, given a fine afternoon, the joint permanent committee of the Royal Society of London has recommended that the Australian, Astronomers should concentrate their efforts to secure photographic records of the structure of the corona. Tt has sent a set of instruments specially designed for, and successfully employed at, other eclipses, which will be used by the Melbourne Observatory.

It is probable that New Zealand astronomers will be represented 011 the expedition. _ Mr Hutchings, a well known Christeburch amateur, has intimated bis intention to observe the phenomena.