Australian solar eclipse expeditions: the voyage to Cape York in 1871

Article


Lomb, Nick. 2016. "Australian solar eclipse expeditions: the voyage to Cape York in 1871." Journal of Astronomical History and Heritage. 19 (1), pp. 79-95. https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1440-2807.2016.01.06
Article Title

Australian solar eclipse expeditions: the voyage to Cape York in 1871

ERA Journal ID30599
Article CategoryArticle
Authors
AuthorLomb, Nick
Journal TitleJournal of Astronomical History and Heritage
Journal Citation19 (1), pp. 79-95
Number of Pages17
Year2016
Place of PublicationThailand
ISSN1440-2807
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.3724/SP.J.1440-2807.2016.01.06
Web Address (URL)https://www.sciengine.com/JAHH/doi/10.3724/SP.J.1440-2807.2016.01.06
Abstract

Techniques such as photography and spectroscopy only became available to study solar eclipses in the 1860s. The first subsequent total eclipse of the Sun to be visible from Australia was one in December 1871 that was visible from far north Queensland. Initiated by the Royal Society of Victoria, astronomers in Melbourne and Sydney cooperated to organise the Australian Eclipse Expedition aboard the steamship Governor Blackall to a suitable observing location. Though on the day of the eclipse clouds prevented viewing, this was an important expedition that was complex to organise and involved dealings with colonial Governments and with relatively large sums of money that Australian scientists had not previously experienced. With a newspaper reporter as part of the expedition along with two photographers the expedition was well recorded and provides a clear insight into the activities of late nineteenth century astronomers and other scientists.

Keywordsnineteenth century eclipse expeditions; 1871 total solar eclipse; Eclipse Island; Royal Society of Victoria;Governor Blackall; Melbourne Observatory; Sydney Observatory
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020519999. Other physical sciences not elsewhere classified
430302. Australian history
Public Notes

Open Access.

Byline AffiliationsSchool of Agricultural, Computational and Environmental Sciences
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
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https://research.usq.edu.au/item/q371x/australian-solar-eclipse-expeditions-the-voyage-to-cape-york-in-1871

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