SOLAR ECLIPSE

Hokitika Guardian, 26 January 1925, Page 2

SOLAR ECLIPSE

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[BV TELEGRAPH— PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] AMERICA'S SPECTACLE. NEW YORK, January 24. A rapidly vanishing streak of darkness was described over 40,000 square miles of Canada and the United States. In the path of the- celestial shadow, brush, formed frequently by the sun, and the moon, were parts of the States of New York, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin, Peniisvlvhnia, New Jersev, M assachusscts, Connecticut. Rhode Island. and the province of Ontario. An hour of daylight was succeeded liv twilight, then liv a few minutes of darkness, and then there was twilight and daylight again. Striking the earth at Red Lake, jn Minnesota, the moon’s shadow, one hundred miles wide, swept eastward in a curve, at the rate of 42000 miles per hour to the Atlantic Ocean, disappearing finally into space at a- point near the Shetland Islands, after striking the earth for three thousand linics . Two minutes was the longest time for which any one city was covered. On either side, of the blackness was a twilight zone four thousand five hundred miles wide, extending north to Labrador, and south to the Amazon River. From the cities near the totality zone thousands of people entered into the zone by the railroads, which were running special trains for the occasion. The radio and aviation did much to improve the study of the phenomena. Excellent scientific observations were made by scientists at Cornell and Yale Universities, and aboard the dirigible “Los Angeles ” over the Island of Nantucket.

The first reports of the scientific tests with the radio at Iron Mountain (in Michigan) noted a slight increase tit the volume and clarity of the signals. At Waterhury (Connecticut) there was a marked departure from the din of tone apparent. The Radio Corporation of America has reported that its tests have proved that a short wave length follows ’lie sun. and that the static was not entirely a local condition. The eclipse average was four seconds later thniUthe astronomers calculated. The planets, Mercury, Jupiter, and Venus were as clearly visible as at night although the darkness did not equal that of night. Green, gold and scarlet colours, splashed the horizon, adding to the spectacle. The corona of the sun was perfect.' Baily’s Beads were dancing like drops of liquid topaz, strung on a sparkling thread hung in the sky . Just at the moment before the eclipse became total, as they flickered out, shadow-hands flowed forth, heralding the approach of the awe-inspiring corona. All the colours of the spectrum seem--od to hurst outward from the moon’s dull, reddish rim. Like the flame from a huge blow torch, they gushed and subsidedTHE ECLIPSE. (Received this day at S a.m.) NEW YORK, January 24. The astronomers aboard the dirigible Los Angeles which was lifted a mile closer to the sun at Nantucket,Massachussets. had a perfect view of a magnificent spectacle unmarred by a cloud. The ghostly radiance of the eclipse turned the ocean horizon and clouds ‘into a vpj id multi-coloured picture, while the observers made photographs of the Corona. The spectograph recorded the spectrum lines, helium gas and hydrogen were also recorded, since both helium and hydrogen are in the outlavers of the suit. Possibly when the plates are developed some new clement or secret may he revealed to science. The shadow bands were photographed for the first time in history.