The total solar eclipse of August 9, 1896. Report on the expedition to Kiö Island

Abstract

The observing party consisted of Mr. Fowler, Dr. W . J. Lockyer, and myself, and the selection of Kiö Island as an observing station was rendered possible by the g ran t of the'services of H. M.S. “Volage.” Although the expedition failed in its main objects, because of unfavourable weather, it is considered desirable to put on record an account of the arrangements which had been made to secure observations, more especially as a new feature was introduced in the training of a large number of officers and men to take p art in the observations. Profiting by the experience gained in previous eclipses, prismatic cameras of the highest available powers were taken out, as well as a powerful integrating spectroscope. To supplement the work of these photographic instruments, a number of prisms and small slit spectroscopes were provided for use by such assistants as were available. The voluntary services of 74 officers and men of H. M. S. “Volage” made it possible to extend the original program me so as to include records of all the attendant phenomena.