The Michigan Daily - Friday, June 1, 1984 - Page 7 Eclipse is heavenly when seen from top of Angell By LISA POWERS Wednesday morning it looked as if the clouds were going to eclipse the eclipse, but the rain and cloud cover cleared up just as the spectacular, rare eclipse began. For one group of students on the Diag during the eclipse, it was classes and life as usual, but there was quite a different atmosphere above them on the fifth floor of Angell Hall. About 75 people ventured to the top of Angell Hall where the University's Lowbrow Astronomers, an amateur astronomy cluh, sponsored a safe and sophisticated eclipse-watch. SCIENTISTS warned that directly looking at the eclipse could cause eye damage, but many people managed to view it in varous indirect ways. The National Society to Prevent Blindness recommended watching it on television or reflecting an image of the event through a pinhole in a piece of cardboard, and both methods were widely used. Other people glanced into water pud- dles and glasses of water, or used binoculars to shine the image onto paper. Still others risked permanent damage to their eyes by looking direc- tly at the sun through exposed pieces of film and sunglasses. The president of the Lowbrows, Peter Challis, a junior in the astronomy program, manned the ten-inch refrac- tor telescope atop Angell Hall. It was used to reflect a bright, clear image of the sun onto a screen which showed the 9 moon as a semi-circular, dark shadow progressively covering it. AT 11:45, THE sun looked like a sugar cookie with a bite taken out of it. Clouds showed up as rapidly-moving shadows, but by noon they had disappeared. Sun- spots were plainly visible. Challis ex- DOUG McMAHON/Doily; Peter Challis, s junior astronomy student, watches the eclipse in the observatory atop Angell Hall. plained that the sunspots were "regions in the sun with intense magnetic ac- tivity which causes the surface to become cooler...and thus appears black due to this temperature differen- ce." The eclipse conveniently occurred during the lunch hour, and quite a diverse group flocked to Angell Hall to enjoy it. One excited couple sipped champagne from a crystal goblet. Some parents brought their children, and many like Katie from Burns Park Elementary School, picnicked under the observatory dome. Robbie, an eight year-old aspiring astronomer from Clonlara School, calmly observed the eclipse and talked with Challis about the telescope. Many University students showed up between classes and were surprised to discover the telescope and observatory on the top of Angell Hall. One recent biology graduate, Jamie Topper, was particularly impressed. "Pretty wild. . . This is interesting for me, since I majored in other sciences, to be ex- posed to something new." BY 12:20, MANY people had noticed that the light was becoming dimmer, but they didn't understand why an eclipse was considered to be more dangerous than full sunshine. Challis explained that the eye has protective reflexes which make it un- comfortable to stare at the sun on a normal day. "The pupil contracts, the eye moves uncontrollably, tears form, and rapid blinking occurs." When the visible light is decreased during an eclipse, the eye is tricked into staying dilated while the damaging ultra-violet and infrared radiation still reaches the Earth. This radiation per- manently "burns" the retina of the eye, and people are unaware of damage being done because the retina feels no pain, Challis said. Incidences of blindness have been reported after previous eclipses, even though many of the victims heard the warnings, but local hospitals had no reports of any such injuries yesterday. ON THE DIAG, it looked like an average Spring afternoon. People eating lunch on the benches and a circle of hackysack shufflers made it seem like it was just a normal day. Most of the people on the Diag were aware of the eclipse but some were not impressed. Adam, a senior, called it "anti-climactic," and Rachel, a junior sitting next to him, thought it was "over-built ... like New Year's Eve." However, Gary, a senior in Com- munications, said that it was "in- teresting; dangerous, yes, but not for intelligent people." At 12:40, although over 70 percent of the sun was covered and the sky was a slightly strange blue-gray color, the day seemed fairly bright. Jim, a senior who was soaking up what sun was left, See ECLIPSE, Page 16 Judge rejects legislative redistricting plan PONTIAC, (UPI) - An Oakland County judge yesterday threw out a controversial 1983 legislative redistric- ting plan, casting doubt on where this year's state House elections will be run. Judge George LaPlata said the plan is unconstitutional because the bill passed by the Legislature was radically changed from its original form. THE DECISION could have far reaching implications for the legislative process if it is upheld on ap- peal. Its immediate impact is to require that 1984 House elections be held in old districts, not the new ones. The reapportionment lawsuit was filed by five residents of Oakland Coun- ty. It is supported, however, by many members of the House Republican caucus. Lansing attorney David McKeague, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said he was pleased with LaPlata's decision. "WE FULLY believe the legal prin- ciple applies to many other cases...far beyond apportionment," McKeague said. Gov. James Blanchard has asked the Michigan Supreme Court to review the question, citing the danger of electoral chaos and confusion. A special primary is scheduled for the 21st District June 5. That date also is the filing deadline for the regular House elections. SENATORS ARE not up for election this year. A spokesman said the Supreme Court is considering Blanchard's request but has not yet acted on it. The current redistricting plan was ,rammed through the Legislature late last year when Democrats still con- trolled both houses. Many Republicans believe the plan favors the Democrats. ENSIAN DO YOU? " Enjoy taking photographs? * Have experience printing pictures? * Want to earn up to $175.00 a month? The Michigan Ensian, U-M's all-campus yearbook, is hiring a darkroom technician for the 1984-85 school year. Apply at the Student Publications Bldg. or call 764-0550 for more information.