3-085-784 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Eclipse Expedition: view of the observatories, showing the shelter provided against the Sun, 1898. 'The party of astronomers...consisting of Sir Norman Lockyer, Mr. Fowler, and Dr. W. J. L. Lockyer,...proceeded to Viziadrug [sic], on the west coast of India. Here the Eclipse Camp was at once begun, the observing party now mustering more than one hundred and twenty...Captain Chisholm Batten and Sir Norman Lockyer on landing found a strong party of the Indian Public Works Department, with a supply of all needful material, and on the first day the foundation of concrete pillars for the various instruments was proceeded with...The climate of Viziadrug is perfect (says our correspondent)...The Melpomene is anchored in a well-protected harbour about half a mile from the fort, and a signal-station has been erected, placing the ship and camp in the closest connection...On the actual day of the eclipse the meteorological conditions proved generally favourable to the observations of the several groups of scientists stationed at various points of vantage, and particularly so at Sir Norman Lockyer's camp at Viziadrug and at that of Professor Campbell at Jewar. The length of totality proved two minutes - four seconds short of the calculated time'. From "Illustrated London News", 1898.