PROJECT APEQS-SOLAR ECLIPSE FLIGHT EXPEDITION THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY-DOUGLAS AIRCRAFT COMPANY.
Abstract
The solar eclipse flight expedition known as Project APEQS (Airborne Photography of the Eclipse of the Quiet Sun) is described. This expedition gave a large group of astronomers an opportunity to observe and record various phenomena during the total eclipse of the Sun on July 20, 1963, from a stratosphere vantage point over the Northwest Territories of Canada. The expedition was undertaken jointly by the National Geographic Society and the Douglas Aircraft Company, Inc. The history of the events leading to the project is briefly sketched. The preparations and modifications of the DC-8 airplane, leased from Delta Airlines, are outlined, and the special installations of astronomical instruments are described and illustrated in detail. Section 6 is devoted to a discussion of the navigational planning. Section 7 gives an account of the flight operations. These comprise the preparatory tests, a dry run on the day before the eclipse, and the eclipse flight proper. A brief summary of the results achieved is given in the last section, pending a scientific evaluation of the results of the 20 experiments conducted during the eclipse. These scientific results will be the subject of individual reports by the experimenters. (Author)
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1963
- Accession Number
- AD0426221
Entities
People
- W. B. Klemperer
Organizations
- Douglas