W. J. Mangini Says That Rare "Blue
Sun" Was Observed at New Norcia At the request of Father Brennan, I accompanied him to New Norcia and interrogated a representa-
tive cross-section of those who had observed the repotted phenomena. The answers, while differing a good deal in many details (indicating at the moat a limited degree of collusion) agreed in certain rather important respects. The following conclusions seem well substantiated
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A Physicist Reports on New
Norcia Solar Phenomenon The report of Mr. Mangini on the New Norcia phenomenon. printed on this page, indicates that, in his opinion. the reported phenomenon could have been caused by nat-
ural forces Investigations into the matter were carried out during the week. and were stepped up when it was found that the two photographs (reprinted on this page) taken by one of the girls who saw the phenomenon, showed distinct rays of light coming from the sun and reaching the earth close to the camera. A series of comprehensive interviews were carried out yesterday at New Norcia, and the original camera was used to take a series of photographs of the sun. When these were developed last night it was found that a lens defect (common to most simple cameras) existed and thus no special significance could be attributed to the original photographs. "The Record' is indebted to Mr. Mangini for his scientific help and for the many hours he devoted to the preparing of charts and questionnaires for interviews.
Firstly: The rays and circles reported to surround the sun were probably due to (a) light scattered by the intervening clouds, and (b) the ordinary halation proper to the eye observing bright objects. There was no indication that the rays were unduly long, or different from what might be expected from these causes. Secondly: The "spinning" of the sun requires a careful consideration. It is difficult to see how a featureless disc such as the sun presents could be observed to spin, yet all observers agreed that it did so. However, they were pretty evenly divided con= cerning the sense of the rotation. The explanation probably lies in the well-known "shimmering" effect seen when the sun is looked at directly-this; of course, is only possible when its brilliance is considerably reduced, e.g., by cloud or by close proximity to the horizon. Under such conditions the orb of the sun presents a distinctly "fluid" appearance, caused either by atmospheric refraction or by physiological reactions of the eye, or by both. The
statements presented indicated that this phenomenon, together perhaps with a little suggestion, could easily give rise to the observed "spin." Some observers report that they have seen the same spin regularly since the first occasion, in each case towards sunset. One did not see it on the first occasion, has seen it since. Thus this explanation would seem justified.
Thirdly: The uniformity of the statements, and the certainty of the observers, make it difficult to deny that during a part at least of the manifestation, the sun appeared deeply coloured, probably of a bluish green. The apparent intensity of the sun at this time was considerably reduced-a necessary condition if colour was to be observed. This phenomenon is certainly a rare one, but by no means unknown. A red sun is, of course, an everyday experience-it is caused by tricks of atmospheric absorption and scattering, in which some of the colours which make up the sun's white light are lost in transit 'through the earth's atmosphere, and only the redder parts reach the eye directly. Similar action by clouds of certain constitutions seems sometimes to produce the same sort of effect resulting in a blue Blue suns were widely reported in or green sun. Europe for a day or so some months ago. Moderately dense high cloud seems to have quite a pronounced effect on the sun's apparent colour.
Fourthly: The other colours reported as observed during the period under discussion-red and gold
rays; the purple and gold tinting of the countryside, etc.-do not seem to differ materially from those often observed (not necessarily simultaneously) during cloudy sunsets.
Fifthly: Most of those interrogated did not seen au fait with quite common meteorological phenomena-they had usually seen them, but had clearly not observed very closely nor taken much interest in them. Unfamiliarity would enhance their respect for a phenomenon suddenly and perhaps dramatically presented. Sixthly: Photographs taken of the occurrence showed distinct long rays emanating from the sun. An examination of the camera' with which photographs were taken showed that these rays were probably due to imperfections of the lens, causing a pronounced spinar flare of a bright object such as the sun.
-W. J. MANGINI, B.Sc., Research Physicist and Councillor of the W.A. Astronomical Society.
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