A Fare Phenomenon

Hokitika Guardian, 23 December 1921, Page 4

A Fare Phenomenon

TOTAL ECLIPSE Ob Til E Sl'\\ SY OX If V. Dec. II

The first total eclipse of the. sun visible in Australia since the earliest, settlement in the continent will take place on September it Is t. I!I2:.’. The South Australian (iovei lonen. \st run. liner (.Mr Dodwell) points to the impi.i taut field for investigations, and the beauty and rarity of the pheiioink’iion. The total eclipse gives a possibility for testing Einstein's general theory of relativity, which has revolutionised the ideas of scientific men, regarding the nature of space and time. One aspect deals with the action of gravity on a beam of light, and shows that lays uf light arc attracted in common with material bodies towards a heavy gravitating' body, and that to a definite degree which may he predicted. This prediction can be tested ■.luring the total eclipse of the sun, and then only.

Mr Dodwell points out that Wallal, mi rlic Western Australian coast, lias ilie dearest skills and lowest rainfall, as well as the longest duration of totality, but the possibility of a thin veil |nf cirrus cloud, which not infrequently occurs, must not be overlooked. This would prevent photographic observations of stars near the sun at the time of the eclipse. Christmas Island lias been provisionally selected by the British expedition for observation purposes, but. it has only a short duration of totality, and' a heavy and variable rainfall'. A map prepared by Mr Dodwell shows tlio line of totality passing through Cordillo Downs, in South Australitv, and the Lord Mayor of Adelaida has utged, in view of the weather renditions- in the Far North, that an effort should be made to induce the British expedition to visit- tlie South Australian station, instead of Christmas JslSnd,