The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-05-17
SUNS ECLIPSE
 DUE AUGUST 3l
New England Due for Rare Treat-Totality Set at
 3:3OP. M.
STARTS ABOUT z:zOP. N.

Boston, May 17--The occurrence of the total eclipse of the sun In New England on August 31 this year is turning the attention of the entire scientific world upon this section of the United States, and interesting thousands of lay men in the opportunity of lifetime to view such q spectacle. Scores of inqulrnes for data on the eclipse have already been received by the New England Council here, Colonel William A. Barron, chairman of the councils Recreational Develop. ment committee, made known at council headquarters today.
 While total solar eclipses occur fairly often, they seldom happen over densely populated regions, or when the sun Is high in the sky, the New England council points out. The next eclipse in the Unit. cd states will be visible in Idaho at sunrise on July 9, 1945, when the sun is too low for interest. Tho eclipse on August 31, 1932. occurs in mid afternoon of summer day. The path of totality Is 6 belt of darkness 100 miles wide across the norteast corner of Vermont, most of New Hampshire, and southeast. ern Maine, taking in the North Shore of Massac chusetts from New buryport to Salemn, and the tip of Cape Cod.
 The rest of New Engllnd Is In tho area of 05 per cent totality. except for the northern tip of Aroosock County, Maine. The small portion of Maine which Is out. side the path of9b per cent totality Is Itself In the path of approxi- mately % per cent totnlity. The center of the totality path crosses the Canadian line a short distance west of Newport. Vermont, on Lake Memphremgog. and passes through Conway, New Hampshire, In the heart Of the White Noun. tains, and Cape Porpoisc, near Kennebunkport on the Maine coast New England vacationlands con stitute ring.sidc seats for this most impressive astronomical pheno- menon.
 The eclipse reaches totality In New England Ut about 3:30 D. m. Eastern Standard time. Time sche- dules of course vary for different points along the route of the shadow. The speed with which the shadow moves over the earth Is estimated at the shadow. The speed with which the shadow moves over the earth Is estimated at about 2967 feet per second, ac. cording to the official esllpse com. mitte of tho American Astronomi. cal society.
 At about 2:2o p. m., r. s. T., tho eclipse will begin, as the dark disc of the moon bites tho first piece out of the suns bright circle. Tho moons disc will creep gradual. ly over tho sun. until only thin crescent Is visible, which will also disappear. leaving n curved row of brilliant dots---mude by tho sun shining between tho high noun. tains of tho moon, Then the sun wholly disappears behind the moon and tho magnificent spectacle of tho corona flashes Into view.
 The sun Is envelopcd In a hale or corona or such rarity that 1t is Invisible in full sunshine, but when the direct sunlight is obscured by the moon in a total eclipse, the corona Is sisible, streaming in all directions around the sun, and shining with pale grcenish light. with q brightness about half that of Q full moon. If the sky iS clear, tho brighter stars will ap- pear. and tho planet Juiptcr WILL be visible near the sun.
 Observers of the eclipse not use ling astronomical instruments are warned not to ieek at the sun with the naked eye except during total. ity. During tho partial phases. sinobed glass should be used. Tho approach of totality may be de. tectcd by facing northwest shortly before 3:30 D. m. E. 5. T., to watch the approach Of the shadow. The moons shadow on tho earth should be discernible as q blackest, grow. in gin apparent size as 1t sweeps toward the observer like black squall travelling at speed of about 2,000 miles an hour.
 Astronomers from all parts or the world are coming In expedi. tIons and unoffclally to study the spectacle. Sites have already been selected where instruments will be set up and observations taken. It ls to be hoped that unsclentihc observers will take precautions not to hinder the observations in any way, such as the unnecessary burning of automobile lights.
 Towns in the belt of totality are already engaged in preparation to accommodate astronomers n md other visitors. New England re. sorts, hotels, summer camps plan to make the esclipse spectacle tho culmination of their 1882 season. A may folder on the eclipse pub. lished by tho New England Hotel association may he obtained on request to tho New England Coun- ell at Boston as well as the book let Your New England Vacation"