The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-05-12
WAITING FOR THE ECLIPSE
American Astronomers in Far
Away Island of Sumatra.
A Party From the Naval Obseryn-
tory, One From California. and
Another From Mnssachusetts
10 watch Fridays Phenomenon.

BOSTON, May 11-Next Friday, May H.
a total eclipse of the sun visible over a
portion of the Eastern Hemisphere will
be observed by astronomers gathered to-
gether from all parts of the world. As
it happens that the path Of the shadow
cast by the moon upon the earth crosses
the Island of Sumatra, in the East Indies,
American scientists have travelled half
way round the globe to see the eclipse in
its totality from this distant Dutch pos
session. A journey which occupies
months seems disproportionate to spec
tacle which lasts for five minutes and
fifty-one seconds, and yet. as eclipses go.
this eclipse is an unusually long one, and
the most elaborate preparations have been
made to record for future study the inter
estinG features of the event Expeditions
have been sent out by various govern
ments. one party has gone from the Uni
ted States Naval Observatory in WASH
inston; another from the Lick Observa-
tory in California: and a third from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology in
this city-which last, it so happens. is the
only fully equipped expedition from any
OF the American colleges or schools OF
science
The last total eclipse OF the sun was on
May 2S 1900 when representatives, OF the
Institute of Technology, in common with
astronomers from the Harvard Observa-
tory. Percival LowelIs station at Flag
staff. Ariz.. and the Blue Hin MeteoroloS-
zeal Station near Boston, chose Washing
ton. Ca, as an observing station, taking
advantage of the only opportunity in
nearly fifty years TO observe total
eclipse from near the Atlantic Coast. The
same party which went to Georgia from
the Institute is now, with its personnel
but little changed, in Sumatra. II is I'M
der the direction-as 1t was year ago
of Alfred f. Burton, professor OF topo-
graphical engineering, and includes 6. l..
Hosmer, instructor in civil engineering
Harrison w. Smith, assistant in physics.
and c. II. Matthes. a graduate of the in
stitute now in the employ OF the United
States Geological Survey. Mr.. Matthes
was born in Holland, and has acted.
therefore, as interpreter of the party in
sumatra.
The institute party sailed from Boston
February 16, proceeding directly by
steamer TO Genoa, where passage was
taken on the Dutch steamer Koningen
Regentes on March IA for Singapore. The
British Government has sent out two eN-
peditions one TO the island of Mauritius
and one to Sumatra. The Sumatra party
joined the Americans on the koningen
Dyson. of the Royal Observatory at
Greenwich: Prof. II. F. Newall. of the
University Of Cambridge. and j. J.
Atkinson. Mr.. Dyson and Mr.. Atkinson
observed the eclipse last year at Ovar,
Portugal. and Prof. Newan at Algiers
on the same steamer. also, were four
members Of the expedition sent out by
the Dutch Government: DR.. A a. NlJiand
Tr.ffr frnV q
Utrecht Observatory; j.. II. Winder-
dink. from Leyden. and j. b. HUI
brecht the son OF Prof Hubrecht, OF
Utrecht. The Dutch expedition is IN
charge Of Major J. J. y. Muller, director
Of triangulation ana survey of the island
of Sumatra. who met his party at Padang
and took il in Dutch Government
steamer to Painan on the west coast In
a recent letter Prof. Burton writes that
his party has been received most cordial
IL by the Hnilanders, in some contrast
with the attitude shown toward the
English astronomers, who have had to
contend against the present international
prejudice against she British Govern
ment.
Most of the Americans, including both
The institute party and that from the
Naval Observatory, to which astronomers
from various parts Of the country are at
taehed. have chosen Solok as their view
point, a town on the railroad some dis
lance from Padang. The place Is FAVOR
ably situated within the path OF the suns
shadow. and seems to be as good loca-
ton as regards weather conditions as
could be selected. The pursuit Of eclipses
not only takes astronomers 10 the utter
most parts of the earth. but II means that
all the trouble time and expense may be
for nothing If cloudy conditions happen TO
prevail Often, too the path Of the shad-
ow is across oceans and deserts, where
careful observations are practically impos-
s.ble Owing 10 the short duration OF to-
tality. It is not 10 be wondered at. there
fore. that in the last century with its total
Of about seventy eclipses. there has been
a total of no moro. perhaps, than one solid
days watching possible to scientific as
tronomers, with the proper equipment OF
instruments
An eclipse Is readily seen 10 be caused
by the nterposit.on Of the moon between
the sun and the earth, but ii took as
tionorners thousands of years TO discover
that the event could be definitely forr-
told by calculations showing the coinci-
dence of the multiples Of the revolutions
of the sun and moon. But fixing the exact
time f. a simple matter compared with
choosing the best point Of observation
The path Of the shadow may be thou
sands Of miles IN length. and yet pass
hut few points where observations are
practicable: though. on the other hand, a
wide choice of countries may be pre-
S.uted TO the astronomer The eclipse Of
August 9. 1895. for example. had its be
ginning in NORWAY, passed through Nova
Zenlbla Siberia. and the Amur River re-
cion across the Sea of Japan and the
northern japanese Islands, and was lost
ia the Pacific An expedition from Am
chose the Island Of YeZo for its observa-
ton, the party sailing from San Francisco
to Japan In the schoOner-yacht Coronet,