| Description | ' The Committee met at the rooms of the Royal Astronomical Society at 11.30 am
Present: Sir Frank Dyson in the chair; Sir W Christie; Father Cortie; Dr Commelin; Mr Davidson; Colonel Hills; Mr Jeans; Mr Jones; Mr Maunder; Colonel McClean; Professor Newall; Professor Turner; Professor Fowler, Secretary
Professor H C Plummer attended the meeting on the invitation of the Chairman.
The minutes of the preceding meeting were read and confirmed.
Arising out of the minutes, the Chairman reported that after consultation with some members of the Committee he had made appllication to the Government Grant Committee for an increase of the preliminary grant for the Eclipse of 1922 from £200 to £400, and that the Secretary had been informed that the sum of £400 would be available for the purposes of the Committee on June 1st.
Dr Crommelin informed the Committee that copies of the report on the Eclipse of 1919 had been received by the Royal Astronomical Society, and would be distributed to Fellows of that Society in due course.
The Secretary read a letter from Professor S J Bailey, expressing the opinion that the Bruce telescope was neither suitable nor convenient for Eclipse work, and that the 13 - inch (Boyden) refraction of 16 feet focal length was to be preferred; no decision as to the action of American astronomers in connection with the eclipse of 1922 had yet been reached.
The Secretary read part of a letter from Messrs W E Cooke, J M Baldwin, and G F Dodwell, in which it was stated that although the different Australian Observatories will probably work as independent units at the Eclipse of 1922, they desire to co-ordinate their programmes with any general scheme, and would welcome any suggestions or advice.
Sir Frank Dyson presented a chart of the field of stars which would be in the vicinity of the Sun during the Eclipse of 1922, prepared from a photograph , together with a table showing the theoretical deflections of individual Stars. With an Astrographic object-glass stopped down to 7 inches a very satisfactory field of Stars can be photographed.
The question of the instrument to be employed at the Eclipse of 1922 was further considered. The Chairman stated that after consultation with Mr J H Reynolds it appeared that the proposed special equatorial mounting could not be constructed efficiently except at much greater expense than was at first expected. It was believed that the exisisting mounting of the Astrographic telescope could be adapted to a new pedestal at less expense, and application for an estimate had been made to Sir Howard Grubb.
Sir Frank Dyson informed the Committee that he would make all necessary arrangements for an expedition to Christmas Island, and mentioned that, if possible, the opportunity will be utilized to obtain photographs of the Kapteyn area of the sky in Zone - 30 degree.
On the proposal of Professor Turner, seconded by Father Cortie, it was resolved that a second expedition, consisting of Professor H C Plummer and Mr Martin, should occupy a station in the Maldive Islands.
In veiw of the previous resolution it was proposed by Colonel Hills and carried, that Professor Plummer be requested to make enquiries as to suitable instruments which might be available for the purposes of the expedition to the Maldive Islands.
Attention was drawn by Professor Turner to the possible advantages of using a photographic doublet for the photography of stars near the Sun, and said that he would like to consult Professor Conrady as to the best form of lens, and the possibility of obtaining one in time for the Eclipse.
Professor Newall mentioned that he had proposed going to Australia to observe the Eclipse, but difficulties might be caused by the meeting of the International Astronomical Union; if an expedition were sent the expenses would be paid out of the funds of the Solar Physics Observatory.
On the suggestion of Professor Turner, Profesor Fowler was requested to consult with his colleagues on the Executive Committee of the International Astronomical Union as to the date of the next General Assembly, and to draw their attention to the desirability of fixing a date which would allow intending observers of the Eclipse to attend the meeting. ' |