The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1897-11-16
FAIR DAY WANTED
Prof. Buckhalter to Photo.
graph the Eclipse.
En- Route per the Belgic-Bound for
India-A Master Of CoronaI
Photography.

Prof Chas Burckhalter, F. R a. S.
was 3 passenger by the Belgie for In
dis 10 observe the eclipse. He inquired
for his friend Captain Kidwen and
spent couple OF hours with his old
acquaintance Frank Davey. the photo
grapher. This scientist Is director OF
the Chabot Observatory OF Oakland
and professor Of astronomy and geolo-
gy in The Oakland high school. PROBES
sor Burckhslter presented the follow
ing account OF his expedition as being
authentic:
The programme OF work for the
Chab0t astronomer is not nearly so Ella
bOrate as that mapped out by PROBES
so- Campbell OF the Lick Observatory,
but il has one advantage over all other
eclipse expeditions in that Burckhalt-
er's Photographic method is entirely
original. and has never been previously
utilized in eclipse work. The .,Pierson
Photographic telescope" was taken TO
Japan last year by Mr. Burckhalter,
fitted with his own design for expos
ing the plates. but the journey was
fruitless las everybody knows by rea-
son OF clouds. Attorney W. ". Pier
son furnished the money for the ex-
petition.
BurckhalJer'S method OF photograph
ing the suns corona contemplates q
short exposure time for the bright in
ner corona and long exposure for the
faint outlying steamers on one end
the same plate. To DO this he has a
specially constructed plate holder, con-
tanning a revolving cam shaped dia-
phragm. the centre OF which is ar
ranged 10 be coincident with the con-
tour Of the suns image. When the
plase Is exposed this diaphragm is rap
idly rotated by clockwork, thus per-
hitting the outer portion OF the plate
to receive Impressions during the
whole time OF exposure, while The cen
traI portions occupied by the bright
co1ona) are only exposed 10 the image
FOR 3 certain fraction Of the whole
time
Experience il ooronaI photography
has shown that plate exposed for one
OF TWO seconds viii give sharp pic
1ure Of the inner. corona, and no out
side streamers. while in q plate expos
ed long enough 10 portray the extern
sions, all OF the inner detail is blotted
out, OF over exposed
On Mr.. Burckhalter's plates he hopes
10 obtain perfect representations OF
The eclipse, As it would appear to q
trained eye, with polar rays and all the
closer details shown as distinctly as
the equatorial streamers and on
the same plate. If this can be done
il VIII be . wonderful advance in
eclipse photography, because hereto
fore it has only been possible 70 obtain
. correct representation OF any observ-
ed eclipse by combining the results OF
many photographs Cof different ex-
posure umes) into more or less IN
satisfactory drawing.
Al the station Mr. Burckhalter vii
need The services Of four assistants
He hopes to obtain these without diff
Guilty. In India there are q number Of
army posts, where are stationed many
officers OF Her Majesty's service, all o.
them well educated and trained in tht
work Of observing. II has been stated
that willing volunteers viii be found
competent to handle all the scientific
apparatus thar can possibly be trans
ported 10 India for the eclipse.
The probable station 10 be occupied
BIZ The Chabot party is on the ives
coast Of India, in The Deccan, and about
go miles south Of Bombay Al hi:
point Mr.. Burckhalter calculates thai
The eclipse will last for Two minute:
and seven seconds. Totally viii coms
On Al / O'Clock in the afternoon (or a
5 O'Clock q. II. OF Greenwich timel a
which tine the altitude OF the SUI
above the horizon viii be in the neigh.
bo-hood Of fifty degrees. The path o.
totality in this eclipse extends for
length Of about !, 900 miles across India
with q width Of about 80 miles for tht
shadow path The meteorological con
ditions are particularly favorable, and
il viii be an exceedingly untowarC
chance that robs the ambitious asuon-
omers Of clear weather during thi;
eclipse.