Show TOVA TO WATCH VA ECLIPSE FROM TINY ISLAND Scientists Prepare for Important Important Important tant Event in June o- o Washington V D. D C. C One C.-One One of the largest and most completely completely- equipped expeditions ever organized organized organ organ- zed to study a total eclipse o of the sun will be sent by the National Geographic society and the United States navy to observe the unusual solar eclipse of next June Tune 8 fro from froma a tiny coral atoll in the Phoenix islands far out in the midst of the Pacific ocean There are only two tiny islands from which satisfactory observations observations lions of the eclipse can be made in the entire path of the eclipse which extends extend for miles across the Pacific ocean The expedition will wm use one of the these e two Iwo islands The eclipse will ill be visible from the mainland of Peru about sunset sunset sunset sun sun- set but the sun then will be too low lO in the sky to permit satisfactory satisfactory satisfactory tory observations This will be the longest eclipse of the sun visible from the earth in 1200 years year's having a maximum duration of totality of 7 minutes and 4 seconds This eclipse also will end the day before it starts Its path will cross the international date line in the Pacific mid-Pacific so that it will begin on June 9 but butt buti t i end on 01 June 8 Participating with the National Geographic society in the expedition expedition expedition tion will vm be the United States navy the national bureau of standards and the astronomical observatories of several universities Admiral William D. D Leahy chief of naval operations has arranged for the navy mine sweeper Avocet to transport the party from Honolulu to the Phoenix islands early in May and for the instruments to be besent besent besent sent to Honolulu aboard the navys navy's new cruiser Quincy via the Panama Panama Panama Pan Pan- ama canal Dr Briggs in Charge The scientific program has been I initiated and is being directed by I Dr Lyman J. J Briggs Brigg chairman of ot the research committee of the National National National Na Na- Geographic society The scientific scientific scientific lea leader er of the expedition willbe willbe will willbe be Dr S. S A. A Mitchell director of Leander McCormick observatory University of Virginia The expedition will establish itself on either Canton or Enderbury is island island island is- is land both of which are in the Phoenix Phoenix Phoenix Phoe Phoe- nix islands island just south of the Equator Equa Equa- tor about 1800 miles southwest of the Hawaiian islands and miles northeast of Australia The party part will choose one of the two two islands which are about 30 miles apart after arriving in the locality and determining which island offers the best conditions for landing and establishing a camp There are eight islands altogether in the Phoenix group They are arc all aU low coral islands surrounded by reefs with no permanent inhabitants inhabitants inhabitants in in- habitants and are arc under the protection protection pro pro- of Great Britain Enderbury island is about two and nd one-half one miles long and one mile wide while Canton is approximately approximately approximately nine miles in length and four in width Both have lagoons in the center and extend not more than 30 feet above sea level They are uninhabited Landing on both islands is difficult Complete Program Duration of the eclipse will be I 4 minutes and 8 seconds on Enderbury Enderbury Enderbury Ender Ender- bury island and slightly less on Canton The maximum duration 7 minutes minute and 4 seconds will occur at noon at a point in the open ocean about 1500 miles from the nearest land Jand The expeditions expedition's scientific program program program pro pro- gram will ill be one of the most complete complete complete com com- and comprehensive ever carried carried carried car car- ried cut by eclipse o observers servers Special Special Special cial attention will be devoted to observation of the suns sun's corona visible sible only during a total eclipse eclipse and the or outer layer lay lay- er of the sun by photographing photograph ng the flash spectrum which permits the determination of the heights to which vapors rise from the surface of the sun Th There is L l believed re to be an excellent excellent excellent ex ex- ex- ex expectation of clear weather in the Pho Phoenix nix islands at the time of ot the eclipse The eclipse will occur on Enderbury island at a a. a m. m and 22 seconds earlier on on Canton This corresponds to p. p m. m eastern standard time |