PLIGHT OF SCIENTISTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1079, 17 September 1930, Page 1

PLIGHT OF SCIENTISTS

MAY BE STRANDED IN AUCKLAND ECLIPSE PARTY STILL WITHOUT FUNDS ONLY FEW DAYS IN WHICH TO FIND MONEY rLESS more public enthusiasm can be aroused and funds subscribed for the Astronomical Society’s proposed visit to Niuafou Island to observe the solar eclipse, the Dominion will fall down badly on an honoured task which has been entrusted to it by the British Empire Eclipse Committee. This most unsatisfactory state of affairs was made clear this morning: by Mr. J. E. D. Spicer, of Auckland, who is assisting- in organising the expedition. “And the Americans who are going there will have the observations to themselves and will take all the credit,” said Mr. Spicer.

The New Zealand members of the pirty are scheduled to sail next Tuesday by the Niagara for Suva, from vhere it would be taken to Niaufou bv H.M.S. Laburnum, but unless the necessary funds are obtained in the short time given, it is not likely that iie observations will be made by the New Zealanders. Preparations for the eclipse expedition were already far advanced when the announcement was made that Cabinet could not see its way dear to provide the £ 1,000 which was previously promised. As a result of many representations made, however, lie Government is now- prepared to ofer assistance by giving £2OO, providing the society can find another £2OO, a sum of £SOO being the smallest margin on which the expedition isuld work. Earnest endeavours have i«en made to obtain the necessary money by public subscription, but so far only £l6O is in hand, and little time is given to acquire the remainder. OBLIGATION TO BRITAIN The plight of the Astronomical Society is quite a serious one, and is viewed with much concern by those interested The British Empire Sdipse Committee has honoured New Zealand by entrusting the observation of the solar eclipse to its scientists, aid has sent them most expensive instruments for this purpose. Now it appears as though the New Zealanders till be unable to carry out the work entrusted to them, merely for the sake o! the comparatively #cn®ll sum of money required. The historical coronagraph which vaj used at Sobral in 1919 by Mr. C. Davidson, of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, when making the eclipse sboervations which confirmed the celebrated Einstein discoveries, has already arrived in Wellington, while recently 65 oases of instruments and equipment for the expedition arrived in Auckland. Just how British scientists will view New Zealand enterprise, if the venture does not take place, Is not difficult to realise.

AMERICA REAPS BENEFIT But in the face of this, another vorry confronts the society. An American expedition, well equipped with the latest instruments, and with strong financial backing, will observe 'hi! eclipse. With the New' Zealand Party out of the way, the Americans rtj have it all their own way. This rs another fact which is bound to displease ilritish scientists and much of 'J<e confidence previously bestow'ed on t» New Zealand society will be lost. Xiuafou, palm-covered, circular ring tt land rising abruptly out of the tean, and surrounding a large lake, happens to be one of the two spots uoised by the path of a total eclipse “tthe sun on the morning of October ?L k is a queer, lonely little island - the Pacific about half-way between •iamoa and Fiji. Six names are announced as the ■eraonnel of the New Zealand expediw*,ich will probably be led by Dr. E. Adams, Government Astronomer. e will be accompanied by Dr. WilAm C. Burns, of Timaru, and Messrs. ?• de Montalk, Wellington, F. •awith, Eltham, P. W. Glover, Well"ftun, and C. B. Michie. Kaitaia. AMERICAN EXPEDITION “CANNOT AFFORD TO MISS IT” J* 16 hand of American scientists to *2*7® tlle eclipse of the sun is pe“to have already arrived at NiuaThe United States Naval Obser-

vatory ias sent an expedition there and the party is composed of distinguished astronomers. They have CO tons of equipment with them and intend to be ready for that fleeting instant when, if the sky happens to be clear, the black disc of the moon can covering the sun. it is stated that there is only one possible place of anchorage for the mine-sweeper Tanager, carrying the equipment, and that is in deep water. The cliffs of the island rise rather abruptly on all sides, but a landing place has been found for small boats. It will require extreme skill to transport and land the heavy equipment, augmented by B,oooft. of timber brought from Pago Pago, in the small boats. The work will be possible, it

is believed, only on absolutely calm days. Approximately eight weeks’ work are necessary on the island. The biggest job will be building the GOt't. camera through which the weird corona of the eclipse will be photographed. This will be an exact job of astronomical engineering. The camera must be directed with absolute accuracy to the spot iu the heavens where the sun and moon will meet. None of the precious 93 seconds can be wasted in adjustments. The astronomical marksmen must lire rapidly and leave nothing to chance. If the sky happens to be cloudy that morning most of the work will be wasted. The astronomers are taking a big chance on the weather, because they have no basis lor predictions. Meteorological observations never have been taken at Niuafou. with its two white inhabitants and 1,100 Polynesian natives. The eclipse will take place in the morning and the morning sky of the Pacific islands usually is clear at that time of the year. Like Giant Ring

Navy officers who have visited Niuafou describe it as shaped almost exactly like a giant signet ring. On all sides the waves break against precipitous basalt cliffs rising from 30 to 70 feet out of the ocean. Then the land slopes up gently from 300 to 600 feet, covered with a dense growth of coconut palms. Then it slopes down gently into the interior lake, whose surface is considerably above sea level. The waters of the lake are charged with some sort of gas, so that in some places it bubbles. There is a vast amount of data which astronomers can gather from eclipse expeditions, so that they cannot afford to miss one that is at all accessible, states an American paper.