CONDITIONS PERFECT

Taranaki Central Press, Volume IV, Issue 253, 10 June 1937, Page 7

CONDITIONS PERFECT

ECLIPSE OF SUN Exquisle Details Seen Sydney, Jund 9. Sunset saw all instruments manned and ready for the observation of th eclipse of the sun at Canton Island, Phoenix Group, states a radio message from the party. Men from H.M. S. Wellington and the Avocet arrived to assist in the observations. The sky was clear earlier but heavy dark clouds appeared and anxiety prevailed. ,At dawn two rainbows appeared in the southern sky. With the rising of 4h-e sun the sky cleared. Two large white American aerial kites were flying and they attracted black frigate birds Which circled noisily. The gradual darkening brought back the bi, . to land The first contact was at 6.5 a.m. The Americans state the conditions were tile most perfect for an eclipse ever observed. Th© rapid darkening before- totality was reached silenced the birds and ithe only sounds were the voice. of the announcer of the broadcast of the eclipse and the changing of t’lie camera plates. Totality was- reached at 7.5 and lasted for over t,hree minutes, but it was shorter than was expected'. There was a light wind but it did not inter, fere, with or vibrate the instruments. There was an extensiyg corona with exquisite details;. measured 3.12 million miles. There was a sunspot of the maximum type bift the prominences were not'as large as was expected. Bright ,'sba.rs and planets were visible at the period of totality- and there was a small drop in the temperaiture. After the eclipse the scientists gathered to compare notes 1 . All were elated with the observations, which were the most successful ever made.