The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1923-05-31
Eclipse

Los Angeles, Calif.-When the shad-
ow of the moon ends its diagonal dash
across the Pacific September 10 next
and strikes inland near Santa Catalina
Island near here, pilgrims from all
parts of the world will be on hand to
watch the first total eclipse of the sun
visible in the United States since 1918.
Regarded as the most important as
iron omical event Of the year, the Sep
TENDER eclipse will attract thousands
of scientific men to southern Califor-
MIA, and preparations have been made
to facilitate the work of observers and
to accommodate the various scientific
organizations which will hold gather
ings in this city in connection with
the phenomenon.
While the total phase of the eclipse
will be visible from Santa Catalina
Island, several expeditions from Amer
lean and European observatories will
await the obstruction at Ensenada
Lower California, where the period of
totality will last three minutes and 35
seconds, as against two minutes and 48
seconds at Santa Catalina.
7 Some of the scientists will photo
graph stars in the vicinity of the sun
in an effort further to substantiate the
Einstein theory, according to which
light rays, being matter and therefore
subject to the pull of gravitation, are
detected from their course by the
proximity of heavenly body. ~
Other observers will devote their at
tention to the corona, the golden eman-
! alton which extends outward from the
sun past the border of the moon in
every direction for hundreds of thou
sands of miles. With the spectroscope
they will watch for any chemical ele-
ments hitherto undetected in the solar
atmosphere.
Still others will study the red promi-
nences, supposed to be frey matter
projected from the suns deep interior
with enormous velocity and extending
through the corona, and which change
their form so rapidly that they are
never precisely alike at two consecu.
tive observing stations during the
same eclipse.
The exact moment when the appar-
ent edge of the moon touches that OF
the sun will be noted by still another
group of astronomers for the purpose
of procuring more precise data con-
corning the orbit of the moon, and in
the hope of solving a lunar problem OF
some years standing-that is, the
small but as yet unexplained accelera-
Of no pH71rc ~
around the earth.
| Probably the largest band of obser.
vers, however, will come from that
section of the general public which
/ though not deeply versed or interested
in astronomy, periodically displays a
feverish desire to occupy ringside seats
at the bout between sun and moon.
Observers of this class will get the
thrill of lifetime, according to as.
tronomers, who say that the approach
| of the lunar shadow, if watched from
the high hills of Santa Catalina Island
will be truly spectacular sight.
| Looking northward about 1886
o'clock on the afternoon Of the eclipse
watches on these hills will see the
great dark shadow of the moon, more
than hundred miles in diameter
rushing toward them with incredible
rapidity and overwhelming them with
an abruptness that is terrifying.
While the total eclipse will not be
visible in Los Angeles, nineteen-twen.
tieths of the suns disc will be hidden
leaving only narrow, bright crescent
and plunging the city into temporary
gloom.