The times., 1901-05-12
WAITING FOR THE ECLIPSE
American Astronomers in Far
Away Island of Sumatra.

A Party From the Naval Observn,
tory, One From California. and
Another From massachusetts
TO Watch Fridays Phenomenon
BOSTON, May Il.-Next Friday, May Il.
a total eclipse of the sun visible over a
norton of the Eastern Hemisphere viii
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 a spec
tacIe which lasts for five minutes and
ff,y-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 cut by various govern
ments one party has gone from the Dnl-
ted States Naval Observatory in Wash
ineton. another from the Lick OoserNa-
tory in California: and a third from the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology IN
his 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 LowelTs station at Flag
staf. Ariz. and the Blue Hin MeteoroloS-
ical 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 un-
der the direction-as it was year ago
of Alfred r Burton. professor Of tOpo-
graphical engineering. and includes 9. l.
Iiosmer instructor in civil engineering;
Harrison W Smith, assistant in physics,
and c. H. Matthes. a graduate of the in
stitute now in the employ Of the United
States Geological Survey. Mr.. Matthes
was bern 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-
petitions. one To the island of Maurltlus
and one to Sumatra- The Sumatra party
Joined the Americans on the koninGen
Regentes and consisted Of + W
Dyson. Of the Royal Observatory at
Greenwich; Prof. H. F. Newal, OF the
University Of Cambridge, and J J.
Atkinson. Mr.. Dyson and Mr. Atkinson
observed the eclipse last year at CNar,
Portugal and Prof. Newall at Algiers.
On the same steamer. also, were tour
members Of the expedition sent oul pE
the Dutch Government. Dr. A 4. INLAND
and Prof. DR.. N. H. Julius, from the
Utrecht Observatory; j y. Nlnqer-
dink from Leyden and J. =. Hu-
brecht. the son OF Prof Hubrecht. of
Utrecht The Dutch expedition IS III
charge of Ma ior J. J. a Muller. director
of triangulation ana survey of the island
OF Sumatra. who met his party at Paoang
and took il in Dutch Government
steamer to Painan on the west coast In
q recent letter Prof. Burton writes Inat
his party has been received most cordial
" by the Hulianders. 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
Most Of the Americans including both
the institute party and that from the
Naval Observatory. 10 which astronomers
from various parts OF the country are al
tached. 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 or the sun
shadow. and seems 10 be as good "a l0ca-
ton as regards weather conditions as
could be selected. The pursuit Of ecHpSes
not only takes astronomers 10 the utter
most parts Of the earth. but il means that
all the trouble. time, and expense may be
for nothing If cloudy conditions happen to
prevail Often, toe. the pain ot the snad-
ow Is across oceans and deserts, where
careful observations are practically impos-
stble. Owing to the short duration OF to-
tality. IL is not 10 be wondered al, there
fore. that iu the last century, with It's t9lat
Of about seventy ecGpses. there has been
a total of no more. perhaps. than one solid
days watching possible 90 scientific as
tronomers. with the proper equipment OF
instruments.
An ecliuse is readily seen TO be caused !
by the interDosition Of the moon between /
the sun and the earth. but II took as
IouOmers thousands OF years TO discover
that the event could be definitely forI
told by calculations showing the coinci-
5euce OF the multiples Of the revolutions
u the sun and moon. But fixing the exact
time Is simple matter compared WITH
.hOpsiug the best point Of observation.
The path Of the shadow may be thou
sands Of miles in length, and yet pass
but few points where observations are
practicable, though. on the other hand, a
wide choice OF countries may De pre-
sented 10 the astronomer. The eclipse of !
august g. 1896, for example. had it's be
ginning IN Norway. passed through Nova
Lcmbla, Siberia and the Amur River re-
yion. across the Sea Of Japan and the
northern japanese islands and was lost
Ia the Pacific An expedition from Am |
lerst College under Prof. David =. Todd !
chose the Island Of Nezo for its ObseTva- |
ion. the party sailing from San Francisco |
20 Japan in the schOoner-yacht Coronet |