Airborne Scientists
p. 73 · Read in the full issue
Had Longest
View On Record
Although observations of the eclipse from Manuae were marred by cloud, a team of 30 scientists who "raced" the eclipse across the South Pacific in an aircraft had the longest and steadiest view of the phenome non on record.
Dr. M. Bader, leader of the ex pedition, said the results were "highly successful", reported AAP.
The scientists travelled at 600 miles an hour in a modified Convair 999 which set off from Hawaii. It carried thousands of pounds worth of instruments and spent nine minutes 42 seconds in the shadow of the moon. This was more than double the viewing time for any pre vious eclipse.
The shadow, about 100 miles across, raced over the Pacific from New Zealand to Peru at 17,000 miles an hour and in less than 10 minutes had outdistanced the plane.
The plane's cabin lights were turned out as a final flash of light came from the sun before the eclipse, and the scientists remained almost motionless to avoid disturbing the balance of the plane and so blurring their photograph time exposures.