San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-05
G. A. Duerler, Local As
trononer, Will Go to
Mexico to See Total
Eclipse-He Calculates
That 50 Per Cent Of
Suns Surface Will Be
Covered in San Antonio.

SVvVACu AA 0o1l <AuSVuIVs
When the shadow of the moon
ends its diagonal dash across the
Pacific Ocean next September 10,
and strikes inland near Santa Gaia
lima Island, pilgrims from all parts
of the world will be present to watch
the first total eclipse of the sun
visible in the United States since
1918. Among those who will be at
some point in the path of the moons
shadow across Lower California and
Mexico, will be G.. A. Duerler Jr.,
of San Antonio, and a party of
astronomers from Fort. Worth and
DaAas.
Details of the proposed expedition
into Mexico have not Yet been ar
ranged. George +. Townsend and
Sterling Branch, both of Fort Worth,
as well as several members of the
Dallas Astronomical Society will be
included in the expedition, Mr..
Duerler has ascertained. Time of
departure from San Antonio and the
place from which the total eclipse
will be observed have not been deter
mined.
Regarded as the most important
astronomical event of the year, and
in fact the most important for sew
eral years, the September eclipse will
attract the leading astronomers to
Mexico and stations will be located
at many points along the path of
the moons shadow. Upon the OBJ
servations of these scientists, it is
believed, will either stand or fall the
theory propounded by Einstein that
rays Of light are DETECTED by gravity
and that we do not see the universe
as it is.
Check Einstein Theory.
To determine the truth or the
falsity of the Einstein theory, how
ever, is not the purpose Of Mr..
Duerler's proposed trip into Mexico.
Mr.. Duerler's vocation is the manu-
featuring of candy, but his ayocation
is astronomy. In the same spirit
that botanist will travel miles to
view rare flower, or that Eoolo-
gist will penetrate dangerous jungle
to see strange animal, Mr.. Duerler
will enter Mexico to observe the total
eclipse of the sun.
Other than spyIglass with large
field, Mr.. Duerler will carry no
astronomical instruments with him.
An instrument of low power is all
that is NJ Assary to adequately view
that which is without doubt the most
spectacular of all celestial phenomena.
Wildly, and in q manner that
would he almost impossible for one
who was not intensely interested in
the subject, Mr.. Duerler has describ-
ed the effect of the total eclipse as
it will be felt by those in the direct
path of the moons shadow as it
dashes across the earth at terrific
: speed.
"There is nothing of special inter
est in the phenomena of solar
eclipse until the sun is nearly COW
ered," Mr.. Duerler said, although
before that time shadows cast by
foliage begin to look peculiar. The
light shining through the very small
interstics among the leaves, instead
of making little circles on the earth
makes little crescents-minature
images of the partly-covered sun.
"Some ten minutes before totality
darkness becomes apparent. The re-
manning light, coming as it does from
the edge of the sun only, is much
altered in quality, producing an eff
feet very like that of calcium light
rather than sunshine.
animals are perplexed and birds
60 to roost. The temperature falls
a few degrees and sometimes dew
appears. In a few moments, If the
observer is so situated that his view
commands a distant western horizon,
the moons shadow is seen coming
much like q heavy thunderstorm. 1t
advances with almost terrifying swift
ness until it envelopes him. As soon
as the shadow arrives, and sometimes
a little before, the corona and promi-
nences become visible. The brighter
stars make their appearance stimuli
taneously.
Darker at First.
1The suddenness with which the
darkness descends upon the observer
is exceedingly striking. The sun is
so brilliant that even the small por-
tlon which remains visible up to
within. a very few seconds of the
time Of totally so dazzles the eye
that It is not prepared for the sud-
den transition. In a few moments,
however. the vision becomes accustom-
ed to the change in light, and it is
then found that the darkness is not
4okeally very intense, light coming from
the lower parts of the corona and
chromosphere, which is very brilliant
if the eclipse is of short duration.
In an eclipse of longer duration-five
or six minutes-it is much darker
and artificial light is necessary.
"The length of the moons shadow
at new moon, (when between the
earth AMI SUM- averages 232, $50
miles. Since the mean length of the