| Description | ' The Committee met at the rooms of the Royal Society at noon.
Present: Sir Frank Dyson in the chair; Father Cortie; Dr Commelin; Professor Eddington; Colonel Hills; Mr Hinks; Mr Jeans; Mr Jones; Mr Knobel; Major MacMahon; Colonel McClean; Professor Newall; Professor Turner; Professor Fowler, Secretary
A letter from Admiral Sir A Mostyn Field was read, expressing regret at his inability to attend the Meeting.
The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed.
The final accounts for the Eclipse of 1919 May 29 were presented by the Secretary, and copies of the following statement were laid on the table;
Reported 1919 November 14 Total Grant £1350-0-0
Total Expenditure £1117 -12-0
Balance £232-8-0
Close of account, 1919 December 12;
Midland Railway Carriage ... £0-7-10
Booth Line, Carriage of Instruments in Brazil ... £33-15-4
Reproduction of Photographs ...£20-0-0
Postage and cheques ... £0-1-10
Total; £54-5-0
Balance; £178-3-0
Bank Interest; £5-13-10
Returned to Government Grant Committee; £183-16-10
The Chairman informed the Committee that arrangements had been made with the Royal Society for the inclusion of a reproduction of one of the photographs in the Report on the Eclipse of 1919, and that a note would be added stating that individual applications for direct photographic copies would be considered.
The question of the supply of copies of the Report on the Eclipse of 1919 for distribution to the Fellows of the Royal Astronomical Society was discussed, and it was decided to refer the matter to the Council of the Royal Astronomical Society; it was estimated that the cost of 750 copies would be about £50.
The Eclipse of 1922 September 21 was then taken into consideration. The Chairman gave particulars as to the Stars which would be in the neighbourhood of the Sun on that occasion, and emphasised the importance of an attempt to obtain photographs for a further test of the gravitational deflection of light, especially as the Eclips of 1923 would be much less favourable for this purpose.
Geographical and Meteorological details of the eclipse track were presented by Mr Hinks, from which it appeared that suitable observing stations might be found in the Maldive Islands, Christmas Island, and at Cunnamulla in Queensland. On the request of the Committee Mr Hinks agreed to communicate these particulars to the Royal Astronomical Society, with a view to their publication in the Monthly Notices.
The Chairman read a leter from Mr J M Baldwin, Government Astronomer for Victoria, stating that he hoped to be able to utilize the Melbourne Astrographic Telescope during the Eclipse, and that in the event of his being unable to do so, he would be willing to place the instrument at the disposal of some other observer for use in Australia. It was resolved to invite Australian Astronomers to co-operate with the Committee, and to organise as many expeditions as possible.
It was provisionally agreed that plans should be made for expeditions to the Maldive Island and Christmas Island, and that the latter station should be occupied by two observers from the Royal Observatory Greenwich.
On the proposal of Professor Turner it was resolved that the sum of £200 be placed at the disposal of the Astronomer Royal for preliminary expenses, as soon as the amount has been received from the Government Grant Committee.
Mr Hinks drew their attention to the special advantages of the Bruce telescope of the Arequipa Observatory for the photography of Stars near the Sun, and on the proposal of Professor Turner it was resolved that a letter be sent to Professor S J Bailey, inquiring as to the possibility of this telescope being utilised for the Eclipse of 1922.
[Signed] F W Dyson
1920 May 14 ' |