The last until the year 2017
Photo by Ron Bishop
The solar eclipse Saturday was witnessed throughout most of the United States and Mexico. This is the first and last solar eclipse in this century.
Country views eclipse
At about noon, Saturday, most of the United States and parts of Mexico witnessed the last solar eclipse to occur on this continent this century.
From the west coast of Mexico to the eastern seaboard of the United States, the "cone of totality," or shadow of the moon, swept across the country at 1,500 miles an hour turning day into night and confusing all types of animals.
The NBC television network carried live TV pictures of the eclipse from cameras attached to telescopes, thus giving people all over the country a chance to see this rare and unusual phenomenon first hand.
As millions watched, the dark sphere of the moon slowly engulfed the sun producing a number of unusual occurrences.
As the moon covered the last portion of the solar disc, a bright, almost blinding flash of light was seen as sunlight streamed through the valleys and craters on the moon. The effect produced an appearance not unlike that of a diamond ring glinting in the sun. This phenomenon is known to astronomers as (not surprisingly) the "diamond ring effect."
After this passed, and as the moon continued its pass across the sun's face, the otherwise invisible chromosphere, the part of the sun's atmosphere just above the surface, was seen.
Finally, the most notable phenomenon of any solar eclipse became visible, the sun's corona. This is the sun's atmosphere that extends many millions of miles out in space and is made up of gases heated up to a million degrees.
Because the most ideal conditions for viewing the eclipse were present in Mexico, astronomers and scientists from all over the world set up telescopes and recording equipment near the small village of Miahuatlan in central Mexico.
Before the coming of the scientists, this small hamlet had none of the modern conveniences that Americans are so acustomed to. As the time of the eclipse drew near, the people of Miauhtalan found themselves besieged by Americans, Russians, Dutch and many other countries represented by their top scientists.
The United States alone sent some 20 different teams from many universities to the small town that had obtained the use of electricity only last fall.
Yet, the Miahuatlans prepared for the onslaught of scientists. The townpeople cleaned the streets, slapped new paint on old buildings, and even set up new boots for their market places. During the week prior to the eclipse, a week-long fiesta was declared by the people to welcome their visitors.
As usual for an undeveloped society, rumors of the "moon eating up the sun" circulated through the village. But, most of the people knew that the solar eclipse was not a harbinger of death and destruction and became eager to see the unusual occurrence as the time approached.
Interviews
March 11: Armstrong, BS-business administration, BA-Liberal Arts, marketing, sales, U.S. citizenship required, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., business administration and related areas; St. Paul Insurance Co., BS, MBA-Business, BA-Liberal Arts, claims, investment analyst, bonds, sales, titles; Touche, Ross & Co., accounting, BS, MS, MBA, BA, MA, accountants and management consultants.
March 12: Del Monte Sales Co., BS, MS, MBA-Business, BALiberal Arts, sales trainee; Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Business, accounting; Kansas City Power and Light Co., BS, Business major in accounting; Moberly, West, Jennings & Schaul (Wichita), BS, MBA, accounting; 7-11 Stores, any degree for on the job management training program; Xerox Corp., sales representatives.
The March draft call for Kansas will be 130 men, according to Lt. Col, Junior F. Elder, State Selective Service director,
"Draft lottery numbers which are vulnerable will be 90 and under for the month of March," he said.
"Approximately 73 per cent of the group had numbers in the first half of the lottery numbers, and seven people had numbers above 340.
Quotas have not been filled for the last two months. Elder said.
"We were 16 short in January and 27 short last month." He said that they would probably be able to meet their draft call for March, according to the reports he received in February.
"We took a sample 200 men from the 400 who entered the National Guard in January and found that 25 per cent of this group was in the top 50 numbers of the draft letter." Elder said.
"Those seven to have simply voluntarily enlisted, but not because they thought they would
be drafted," he said. He said that 600 men enlisted in the National Guard in February.
"A lot of the men who enlist aren't classified I-A, but would become eligible in June, he said. "I guess they thought they'd just get in ahead of the crowd so that they wouldn't be drafted. It is easier to get into the National Guard now."
Magic number is 90 in March draft call
MARCH 9 8:00 P.M. FREE — HOCH AUDITORIUM Sponsored by SUA, Kansas University, Kansas Law School, Student Bar Association