LABORATORY CONDUCTS STUDY OF SOLAR CORONA

A special study of the corona of total solar eclipses is being made at the Astronomical Laboratory by Assistant Professor H. T. Stetson, who has made trips to Sumatra, Norway and remote, portions of the world where total eclipses have occurred in recent years, in order to gather data. The photographic plates made in Sumatra in 1926, and in Norway last year, are being analyzed in an electrical apparatus developed for the purpose by Professor Stetson.

The corona, which is the circle of light observed when the sun is completely obscured by the moon, is a subject of controversy, among astronomers, Professors Stetson explained to a CRIMSON representative. The solution of the problem is important because of its relation to solar eruptions, or sun-spots, which are being made the subject of scientific study in connection with seasonal weather prediction.

During the last three years there have been an unusually large number of disturbances in the sun, and the corona has manifested corresponding variations. In order to get a series of observations of consecutive eclipses from which comparisons could be made, Professor Stetson has twice travelled nearly around the world, and one trip of 27,000 miles was made to take observations of an eclipse which lasted only 30 seconds.