THE SMITHSONIAN ECLIPSE EXPEDITION OF 



JUNE 8, 1918 



REPORT OF L. B. ALDRICH 



(With Four Plates) 



PREPARATION 



Congress having made appropriation for an expedition from the 

 Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory to observe the total solar 

 eclipse of June 8, 1918, plans were made according to which the 

 director of the Observatory would personally accompany the expedi- 

 tion. But as the time approached. Dr. Abbot found other urgent 

 matters requiring his attention, and though his advice and assistance 

 were available at all times, he placed the expedition in charge of the 

 writer. 



It was early decided that a location in western Kansas be chosen, 

 rather than to go farther west, chiefly for the reason that the line 

 of observers would thus be more extended and the probable number 

 of stations favored with good weather increased. 



Besides tbe writer, the expedition included Air. Andrew Kramer, 

 instrument maker of the Observatory, and Rev. Clarence Woodman. 

 C. S. P., of Berkeley, Cal., a volunteer observer whose large exper- 

 ience materially aided in the success of the expedition. Both Father 

 Woodman and Mr. Kramer had assisted in the eclipse expedition of 

 the Smithsonian Institution under Secretary Langley at Wadesboro, 

 N. C, in icpo. 



Because of transportation difficulties incident to the war, a mini- 

 mum of apparatus was sent from the Institution. As far as possible 

 the equipment was obtained and constructed at the station. Only two 

 medium-sized boxes of apparatus were prepared, and these were 

 taken as personal baggage by the expedition members. 



OBJECTS 



The objects in view were three-fold : 



( 1 ) Measurements with the pyranometer. This included — 



(a) Measurements of sky brightness. 



(b) Measurements of the total radiation from sun and sky. 



Smithsonian Miscellaneous Collections, Vol. 69, No. 9. 



