SOLAR WONDER

Waikato Times, Volume 121, Issue 20270, 12 August 1937, Page 3

SOLAR WONDER

PHOTOGRAPHING ECLIPSE. DOMINION PARTY AT CANTON. LEADER TALKS IN HAMILTON. “Words will not describe the unique and marvellous wonders of the corona,” said Mr C. B. Michie, the leader of the recent New Zealand solar eclipse expedition to Canton Island, in the course of his first lecture upon his return to the Dominion, delivered to the Hamilton Astronomical Society last evening. Nevertheless Mr Michie’s description of the June eclipse was vivid, and lie painted a word-picture which, enhanced by the screening of a collection of sildes, portrayed the eclipse and the corona, the halo around the sun, as one of the wonders of the heavens. The lecturer outlined observations made by the party, and the various Incidents that occurred during the operations of the different solar eclipse parties encamped. In outlining the causes which led to the expedition, Mr Michie detailed his visit to Tin Can Island some year ago, when pictures obtained of the corona were disappointing. The photographs did not reveal the wonders seen by the naked eye. This disappointment led to the expedition to Canton this year, when equipment was borrowed from England and was augmented by the party’s own experimental cameras. Assistance from Other Parties. The British authorities had not seen the possibilities of Canton Island for viewing the eclipse. Details of the island were obtained from the British Admiralty, to whom the speaker paid a tribute. The New Zealand Royal Naval Division placed the sloop 11.M.5. Wellington at the party's disposal, and Canton was reached on May 26, the landing being made the following day. There was a considerable amount of gear to gather. Eighty despatches were forwarded and another 40 were carried when the party sailed. Supplies, medicines, food and instruments had to be taken. Following views of the American camp, Mr Michie showed scenes of the landing of his own party, which was met by the Americans, who extended every courtesy and assistance. The two parties were encamped close together on the island. The erection of the coronagraph, a large camera, was shown, together with views of the instrument which reflected the rays of the sun into a horizontal camera. Drops on a benzine tin amplified the counting of seconds for the timing of the exposures. New Apparatus. Views of the American instruments were shown and explained by the speaker. It was a coincidence that Mr Michie was experimenting with an instrument known as a rotating sector, as was a member of the American party, Dr. Gardner, neither of whom knew of the other’s experiments. Mr Michie’s aim with the sector was to photograph more clearly and exactly the interesting shadows connected with the eclipse. Dr. Betchiner, a member of the American party, painted the eclipse, preparing a dummy beforehand. Major Buddie and Mr Geddes completed drawings for the New Zealand party. The Eclipse. As soon as totality occurred a shadow swept across the earth in that part, said the speaker, who explained that within the five seconds Just prior to totality the corona extended considerably. The corona was a toning of bright yet delicate light, and the speaker likened it to a bridal veil. Long streaks light extended radially from the sun’s rim. Some of the extending beams were curved. From the base one coronal streamer was estimated to extend 3,500,000 miles into space. The inner corona was like a bright flare, from which extended the streamers of brush-like raj's. Exact details of the eclipse were difficult to photograph, as time exposures were necessary and were too long to capture the never-steady finer details of light and shadow. The rotating sector with which Mr Michie was experimenting should, when improved, aid towards more accurate photography. The speaker hoped to visit Africa In 1940 to experiment further with photography of the solar eclipse. Different Light Waves? It was thought likely by the speaker that in the many shadows and rays of the corona there was evidence of different wave lengths of light which would make some visible to the naked eye better than to the camera, and vice versa. The slides shown were exhibited last evening for the first time, the lecturer never having seen them in slide form before. An interesting talk, illustrated by slides, of the bird life of Canton Island was given by Mr Michie. Frigate birds and gannets were in great abundance. Photographs taken in Samoa on the voyage to Canton and during the return trip were projected on the screen. At the conclusion of the lecture Mr Michie was thanked, on behalf of the society, by the president, Mr Allan Bryce.