Gilpin observer., 1901-02-28
NEXT SOLAR ECLIPSE
Naval Observatory Party Organ
izing Trip to Sunaatra. u
PROF. ". 4. SKINNER WILL LEAD IT

Totally of Eclipse Which Occurs
About Midday on May 1S Next VIII
Last Six Minutes and Twenty Sec
onds British and Dutch Parties
VIII De Present.
Extensive preparations are being
made by officials Of the United States
Naval observatory for the organization
OF an observation party to leave Wash
ington about Feb. 10 for Dutch Su-
matra, reaching there in time for the
total eclipse of the sun which occurs
on May IS, writes the New York Trib-
une's Washington correspondent. The
party has been chosen by the astro-
nomical director of the observatory,
Professor S. ]. Brown, and is to be
under the leadership of Professor w.
X. Skinner. 1t will consist of Profess
ors Skinner and Eichelberger. Messrs.
Jewel and Littell, assistant astrono-
mers. and Mr.. Peters, the official pho
tographer, all of the observatory; Pro-
fessor Barnard of the Yerkes observ-
atory, Chicago; Professor Humphrey
VI t44G CLAl| SItl VI ' Al ma. lbLtSSOI
Abbott of the Smithsonian institution,
Professor Mitchell of Columbia uni
versity and Professor Gilbert of Johns
Hopkins. Arrangements have been
made with the war department for ac-
commodatlous for this party on the
first available transport leaving San
Francisco about Feb. 20 for the Philip
pines.
Arriving mt Manila, the members of
the party will go aboard one of the
United States war vessels and sail for
the west coast of Sumatra, the port
where they expect to land being Pc
dang. From there the party will take
the Symatan railway, which is 100
miles long. and ride about co miles into
the interior of the island. At this point
officers of the Dutch government will
be on hand to help establish an OBJ
servation station. Parties representing
the British and Dutch governments are
also to be present to view the eclipse.
The party from Holland is to consist of
Professor Witterduch of Leyden and
Professor inland of Utrecht both of
whom observed the eclipse last May in
Georgia.
The eclipse of the sun next May will
be of especial interest to astronomers
all over the world because 1t is the
most favorable Of the century, the to-
tality lasting minutes and 20 seconds,
which is only 20 seconds less than the
maximum time for the totality of any
eclipse of the sun. The totality will
occur about midday and can only be
,In ptr;, In Lao, Jv,It
ocean. touching the islands of Sumatra.
Borneo. Celebes and New Guinea. The
land 1t strikes is belt about $50 miles
wide. The scientific work will be con-
Quoted on lines similar to the observa-
tions made last May. the scientists op-
Grating chiefly the Photographic tele-
scopes and Photographic spectroscopes.
Pains are being taken to improve the
apparatus. and because of the expert
ence gained last spring and the unequal
duration Of the eclipse it Is thought
that the operators will accomplish
much more good work than ever be-
fore. Certainly they can develop the
same scope of work TO higher degree
of accuracy. 1t has been predicted that
as much additional knowledge will he
gained by these observations as is
known on the subject of eclipses at the
present time.
The remarkable success of the obser-
vations made last May. which was
largely due to the use Of modern In
struments. caused the observatory as
trnnomers first to consider the feast
bility OF sending an observation party
to the East Indies. When it was final
ly decided to he advisable. congress was
asked to appropriate funds. and n bill
was passed by the house shortly be-
fore Christmas making an allowance
OF $4,000. There seems TO he no qucs-
iion now that the money will lie avail
able In ample time. The families and
friends OF the observers have been pro-
hihirrd from accompanying the party
to Sumntra owing to the tcdlousness
Of the journey as well as ia expense.
Each man was chosen because he was
scientific worker especially educated
In the class OF astronomy 10 hc assign
ed to him. Al the professors are
warm personal friends and have the
utmost confidence In the director. Pro-
fcssor Skinner. Talking of the ex-
pcdltlon. Professor skinner said:
Yes we are all anxious TO 90. hnv-
Ing first made arrangements for obser-
vations so that we can get cxnct facts.
There is only one thing that can cause
the expeditions failure. and that is
cloudy weather The observation sta
tion Will he situated nj II point on the
island OF Sumatrn which might bc call
ed the dividing line of two seasons.
,t,,,. IL,
side. 1t hcGins on the other. shall in
nil probability cnhle to this government
concerning the weather conditions. etc.
on Tim day of lnn ncllnsn md nnrlnna