On the 21 September 1922 an eclipse of the sun passed across the centre of Australia providing optimum conditions for observations. This photograph was taken by one of the members of the Wollal Eclipse expedition in Western Australia.

Here there were three international parties, the Lick Observatory party, under the direction of W. W. Campbell, a group from the University of Toronto, under C. A. Chant and the Indian expedition supervised by J. Evershed. In addition Australia provided a fourth group from the Perth Observatory, directed Mr. Nossiter.

Amongst the 35 tons of stores and equipment unloaded at Wollal was a forty foot coronal camera which required supporting towers 36 feet high. This photograph of the eclipse during total pahse was taken by Dr. Adams using this astrograph.

For further information see the attached Powerhouse Theme, 'Australian Eclipse expedition to Wollal, Western Australia, 1922'.

Geoff Barker, Curatorial, October 2008

References
Campbell, W. W., 'The Total Eclipse of the Sun, September 21, 1922', Astronomical Society of the Pacific, provided by the NASA Astrophysics Data System, May 2008
Evershed, J., 'Report of the Indian Eclipse Expedition to Wollal, West Australia', Kodaikanal Observatory, Bulletin, number LXII
Spencer Jones, H., 'The Total Solar Eclipse of 1922 September 21', The Observatory, May 1923, p.16

Photographic print, solar eclipse taken with Lick Observatory 12.19 metre (40 foot) coronagraph, paper / silver gelatin, photographer Dr. Adams, used at Sydney Observatory, Wollal, Western Australia, 1922

A black and white photograph of an eclipse. The photograph and is framed in a black rectangular wooden frame. There is a metal plaque adhered to the glass at the bottom of the frame. There are two metal eye hooks on the back of the frame and a length of string attached to the hooks.

Made: 1922

Engraved text on plaque reads '1922 SEPT 21 / LICK 40 FT CORONAGRAPH'.

P3549-36

1922

378 mm

315 mm

13 mm