The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1945-07-12

enlarged and complete totalitv came
at 6:l4 for a period calculated as
70 seconds, Slightly shorter than
had been forecast.
The deep twilight came almost as
suddenly as if an electric light had
switched off, with light r%eappearing
after the brief period just as alb
ruptIy. Observers shouts carried over
the quiet prairie while the scientists
worked quickly on the roof of the
Opheim school building at tasks
THAT had been painstakingly re-
hearsed for several days. Stars were
visible. one farmer likened the sub
dued light to that in a heavy dust
storm.
DR.. Paul w. Sprague, professor of
astronomy at Wheaton college, Nor
ton, Mass, said scientific results
appeared "discouraging," although
he added that we will know better
what we have done in. three
months" The party was headed by
DR.. w. T. Whitney, director of the
Frank P. Bracket observatory at
Pomona college, Claremont. Calf.
with observations also being made
by Albert V. Shatzell, director of
Mono observatory at Coleville. Calf.
an affiliate of the Carnegie IN
stitute. Several came to help them.
Shatzel, who was making special
studies for WOrld-farmed Mount Will
son observatory at Pasadena, Calf.
on the suns corona, the flaming.
gaseous rim that remains uncovered
by eclipse, said clouds diffused light
so that conditions were not the best.
Scientists made both still and NOV
ing pictures with special equipment.
There was a brief glimps of
Bailey's beads, or the diamond
ring appearing at the moments
when t~Otality ends and begins. These
are rays Of light streaming through
valleys of the moon at its rim. Lay
observers also reported shadow
bands, pulsating waves of light and
darkness.
The astronomers were guests at
a breakfast staged by the Opheim
Lutheran Ladies Aid after the last
phase of the eclipse which came
about 8 am There they told of
their observations with special
cameras and other instruments.
They also stressed the hospitality of
the farming community and IS
leaders. Special cooperation was
given the visitors by E. A. Walstad
and Mayor E. c. Bohlig.
Although Shatzel was doubtful
that corona photographs would be
clear, he said they we're being sent
by air to DR.. Seth B. Nicholson at
Mount Wilson observatory, Pasa-
dena, Calf.
Others who came with the Scient-
lists were H. Reeve Darling Jr. and
Edward B. Weston, astronomy stu
dents at Pomona college. DR.. Whit
ney'S daughter and son, Ruth and
Richard, with Miss Whitney serving
as pictorial photographer for the
group. and Walter Lorenz, who &C
Shatzell.
Five-foot and 15-foot focus Gamer
or coeleScopeS we're built
especially to photograph the corona.
In addition, special mounts were
for three moving picture
cameras.
probably disappointing results
.h%eerfully, although they had spent
months in preparation. DR.. Whit
lev recalled the clouds had inter
cred with four of five major eclipseS
lie had observed. Elsewhere, better
esults were reported by observers.
The moons shadow, he said, swept
iver the earth at a speed of more
han 1000 miles an hour, starting
n Idaho and ending the days u
4 Turkestan. Longest totality, about
3 seconds, was over Greeland.
1t was a chilly morning and, as
approached, sun dogs" ap-
ieared on both sides of the sun,
aused by clouds, the scientists said,
nd having no relation to the
First star to become visible
as Venus about three minutes be-
ore total eclipse. Others followed.
DR. Sprague said the next major
in this hemisphere will be
Argentina in 1947, where it will
ave about a five-minute totality.