Science: Lost Chance

In June 1937 the last total solar eclipse, longest in more than twelve centuries (7 min. 4 sec. at maximum), was mostly wasted on the Pacific Ocean, where science could not study it. Last week a good enough eclipse (more than four minutes) traveled clear across South America, but it also was wasted. Two parties of U. S. scientists who traveled all the way to the shadow belt with their equipment got virtually no results because clouds veiled the blackened sun. Next chance for science : 1941 in central Asia.