On the 21 September 1922 an eclipse of the sun passed across the centre of Australia providing optimum conditions for observations. This photograph was taken by one of the members of the Wallal Eclipse expedition in Western Australia.
In it we can see the Lick Observatory's 1.52 metre (5 foot) Einstein camera set up. This camera was under the direction of the W. W. Campbell, the leader of the Lick expedition, but the management of the plate holder was left to two Australian naval men, Messers. Rhoades and Kenny, under Commander Quick. It is possible that these are the two men in this particular image.
For further information see the attached Powerhouse Theme, 'Australian Eclipse expedition to Wallal, Western Australia, 1922'.
Geoff Barker, Curatorial, October 2008
References
Campbell, W. W., 'The Total Eclipse of the Sun, September 21, 1922', Astronomical Society of the Pacific, provided by the NASA Astrophysics Data System, May 2008
Evershed, J., 'Report of the Indian Eclipse Expedition to Wallal, West Australia', Kodaikanal Observatory, Bulletin, number LXI