Cieniists Of Four
p. 43 · Read in the full issue
Un Eclipse
[?]. S. Pacific
Ations On Job
lOME of the most isolated islands I of the South Pacific will become important for sixteen seconds in stober this year—when the only tal eclipse of the IGY period takes ace.
Mr. F. M. Bateson, a Rarotonga isinessman and amateur astron aer of international repute, gave me details of international plans r the observation of the eclipse the sun from Islands locations len he returned to the Cook lands from a lecture tour of mada and the United States in ?cember.
This eclipse of the sun will be of rticular interest to science, as the >ual observations will coincide th observations of many related Lenomena being made in all parts the world.
As the path of totality of the lipse (where the sun’s disc is com etely obscured by the moon) will restricted to a narrow belt across part of the South Pacific and e only islands within the zone >m which observations can be ide are the Tokelau atolls (north Samoa), Pukapuka, Nassau, and warrow in the Cooks, and Mopelia French Polynesia.
To better the prospects of obtain l observations unobscured by cloud ring the 16 critical seconds of tality, astronomers will set up escopes on four of these islands Atafu, northernmost of the ikelaus; Pukapuka and nearby issau in the Northern Cooks; and Dpelia.
The Atafu unit will be mainly itish but with one or more New iland astronomers. Pukapuka and issau will be shared by American itional Academy of Sciences and panese astronomers; and Mopelia the site selected by the Cali •nia Academy of Sciences’ team, her international groups may join the effort between now and E iy.
VTr. Bateson briefed the American monomers on various aspects of 3 field situation at the intended es at a conference in Colorado. ie Americans will probably be ided at their selected sites by a > naval vessel.
Dther arrangements were being rked out for the transport of the itish-NZ team to Atafu from ia. This might be by RNZAF ing-boat or by an RNZN vessel.
Uafu and the other atoll es mentioned may seem solid . ough pieces of terra firm a the local residents, but the ;ronomers are reported to be less in happy about their stability.
Heavy surf beating against the shores of these coral pinnacles, which rise steeply from very deep water, could cause troublesome vibration to the telescopes suf ficient to blur photographic ex posures of the event and to disturb sensitive instruments.
This beautiful bride was formerly Miss Maureen Shorthouse, daughter of an old Port Moresby family. Photograph shows her with Mr. George O'Rourke, after their wedding at the Port Moresby Roman Catholic Church on November 23. Couple went to Sydney for their honeymoon.
Photo: Papuan Prints.