The Washington herald., 1922-02-12
THREE ECLPSES !;
OF sun OCCUR IN
NEXT THREE YEARS

SUNDAY. FEBRUARY II. 1922.

ssNDAts FbbhtAa1 Il. I'VE
within the next three year. there
will appear three total ecIipses Of the
sun that are now being looked for
ward TO with unusual interest. OBJ
seryations Of these eclipses may
throw further light on the problem
OF the existence or non-existence Of
the EinsteIn effect: That rays Of
light are DETECTED from their course
upon entering the suns gravitstIonal
field. TIE results OF the British
1913. IL will be remembered, were
strikingly in accord with the theory
and set the whole world talking.
But confirmstory evidence is needed.
Next September 20 there will be a
total eclipse OF the sun visible in
Australia and certain islands Of the
Pacific Ocean that will have a dura-
ton OF nearly six minutes at certain
points on the central line. This il
considerably longer than the average
duration Of q total eclipse and a num-
Der OF eclipse expeditions will be sent
forth from Europe TO take advantage
OF the favorable circumstances Of the
eclipse. The Lick Observatory Will
have an expedition In the field ana
there will be expeditions sent forth
from observatories in Australia
On September 10. 1923 there WIN
be a total solar eclipse Of about
three and one-hah minutes duration
visible an Southern California and
Mexico. This eclipse WIN find many
expeditions in the field. particularly
In Mexico where conditions will be
very favouble, and in the vicinity OF
San Diego where the eclipse will &C.
cur near midday.
On January IS. 1925 according TO
the computations OF the Nautical
Almanac Office, which have recently
been announced. there will be a total
eclipse Of the sun visible In New
York. part Of Pennsylvania. and New
England in the early morning. This
viii be the last eclipse visible irrS
this part Of the United States until
August 81. 1899 and. though IL In
less favorable in it's circumstances
than the other two. 81 will pass over
a very thickly populated part Of the
country. A number Of observatories
will lie directly in its path. The
sun will rise totally eclipsed In North
ern Minnesota The central path
passes from that point across the
northern part OF Wisconsin and Mich
tgan and directly over Niagara Fai.s
and Buffalo, Watkins Glen and Bing-
hamton. y. Y. and crosses the Hud-
son River between Newburg and
Poughkeepsie. New Haven and
Montauk Point also lie almost exact
ly on the central line. At the last
named point IL leaves the United
States passing across the Atlantic
Ocean and ending north Of Scotland.
All points within a distance OF fifty
miles on either side Of the path will
experience a total eclipse Of the sun.
4 The southern limit Of total eclipse
passes across Northern Pennsylvania
through New York City, and between
Jamaica and Nineola. l.. l. The
northern limit passes a little TO the
south Of Syracuse and CooperstoVn
\. Y. and Springfield. Mass. through
Providence. r. I. and a few miles
/ north of New Bedford. Mass. TheI
total phase Of the eclipse will occur
about s:lS a. m. Eastern Standard
time. Although the duration OF thi I
eclipse is only about two minutes ind
New England and the eclipse occurs
at an unfavorahle time Of year therel
is no doubt that extensive plans will
be made 10 observe II at the observal
tories lying directly in its path.-BH
Isabel NJ. Lewis. L. $. Naval Obserl
vatOry.