SOLAR ECLIPSE.

Hokitika Guardian, 31 December 1925, Page 4

SOLAR ECLIPSE.

BRXTISH EXPEDITION. SYDNEY, Dee. 17. Important- scientific results are expected from a British scientific-'expedi-tion xvhieh is row proceeding to Sumatra to make observations during the eclipse of tlie sun. xvh.ie'h xvill he total in that island of the East Indies on January LUli next. Not oniv are British scientists engaged. Astronomers from all parts of the xvorid are congregating in .Sumatra and eret tingiuisniiii, nts xvitli ihe object; of increasing man’s knowledge of the universe. Doubt, in some quarters, still exists as to the value of the Einstein relativity theory, one of the tests for xvhieh is the bonding of light from stars xvhen passing close to the sun. Special observations xvill he made by observers Ire,in various countries. and these should either confirm or throw doubt on the results obtained by Dr Gamphell. of the Lick University, at W’allal (Western Australia), during the eclipse of 1922. Australians have an interest in the expedition, as Air Z. A. Merficld. research assistant, to Sir Thomas Lyle at Melbourne University, left Melbourne early this month, with specially-con-structed insnilllents to join the British party in charge of Mr E. •). AI. Stratton, lie is travelling northwards on the British Imperial Oil Company’s tanker Melania. Mr Stratton’s main xvork xvill he in regard to the Einstein theory, and that of Mr Merfield xvill ho on the composition of the corona. It is probable thai the results to he obtained by Mr Alerfiehl will he of more larreaeliing importance than that of Air

Strut ton's. \n endeavour xvill he made to obtain the law eonueei ing the colour and iutons iy of light in various pans of the corona with the distance of the place of origin from the sun’s surface. THE WORK TO BE DONE. This work xvill he carried out hy moans of a specially-eoiislriteled speetogrnph. The light from the corona will he analysed as to its various colours, akiil its 'intensity measured. Prom theory, it. is expected that the greater the distance from the sun, the redder xvill bo the light. To Die unaided eye. th-' rui-ena appears, during the totality c.f eclipse, a livid line against a darkened sky. The results in he obtained by means of Ihe sun ingiap’t xvill he partl\ e'-iiiii-'iiel hy means ol a .-p.-i ml ( a in, ra which lakes- t- i |■ s |i i'.-i * >-.*-- simultaneously. Over each of (lie eight, ictise.- will ha |.lr..vd a light niter, w!.ieb will let only I'.tie coloured ligii, ii. s "(gli. |L. I his means, Ihe point of origin of an.x coloured light me *i - :La ; \ii Maria Id i- taking to Seinii' a an worked auiemai ioa lix . a:ol noiiii little or no Ml tell ion .lurin'; the In iai' iimmoiii -of totiilil.v. '’>. - ■ i 11,.,, il;i .. : I|.-; are .ill on ail equaiori:! ; . i u!: f ill';, which means that I hey v. ill ,n : In- snu'- i;:uj ion i iinniv'hont Hie ihiee minut.-s ten sei.onds o| l lil v. The ••eLiise. wiiieli will Le total in Ihe L'.-'-l Indie-, area, will let i e x isihie in All-1 l aiia. e\e. |. 1 ill Ihe as D.ua Darwin, a partial eeiinse .xill ’ , i,V | | 11. i - Ml- X.L : i" Id (-.ill j iv, \, | ghaut In i" t) mile ; ft iii.L' nan.- than tinea m mill is' nl, .el v.t 1 ioil.

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