170 
SIR NORMAN LOCKYER AND OTHERS ON THE 
Observations of Stars during Eclipse. 
Lieutenant Blackett reports as follows on the drills and actual observations ;— 
“The star observation party consisted of six observers, in my charge, making 
seven in all. It was found more convenient to tell them off in different parties, as 
follows :— 
“ Lieutenant in charge. —To make a hasty sketch of the whole, noting times of 
appearance and disappearance of planets only. 
“ Tico observers. —To take eastern semicircle. 
“ Two observers. — To take western semicircle. 
“ Two observers. —To observe stars near the sun. 
“ The party wns supplied with star atlases and photographic copies of a chart 
showino- the stars (from mag. 1 to 4) and planets which wmdd he in the sun’s vicinity 
during the eclipse. 
“ After some drills with stars, such as making correct drawings of the different 
constellati(^ns (Orion was found a good subject, the three stars in the belt being used 
as a base to work on), the observers were found to be cpiite efficient. 
“ For the actual eclipse, charts on a larger scale were used and nailed to boards, 
stars being marked down as they appeared or disappeared. These charts Avere photo- 
zincographed at the office of the Trigonometrical Branch, Survey of India, Dehra Pun, 
and were found handy and most useful. 
“ It was found that the best position for observing the stars, the sun being at an 
altitude of 53°, was to lie down full length, the sailor’s hat or a round helmet being 
held up and used to screen the eyes from the bright rays. 
“ Only a few stars were visible, all of which appeared on the western side of the sun. 
“ Venus was noted particularly both before and after totality, and was the first of 
the planets to appear and the last to disappear, being seen altogether for 20 minutes 
“ Mars was visible for a short time during totality, and then disappeared. 
“ Mercurg was not seen. 
“ a and /3 Capricorni, though close to the sun, were not visible. 
“ (9 AqudcB, much higher up, came out before totality for a short period, and then 
as suddenly disappeared, and was not seen again. 
■ “ X Aq mlcB appeared and disappeared in the same manner and time as B, but 
appeared again, was visil^le for a short time, and then disappeared. 
Another star was seen by all the party, some of whom seemed to find a difficulty 
in locating it on tlie charts. It is placed on the chart as being midway between 
Venus and Mars bv two of the observers, and marked as tt Sagittarii bv the other 
five; it was seen onl}^ for a short time, and that before totality. This star was about 
second magnitude. 
O 
“It is to be noted that the stars that appeared before totality disappeared, as far 
