Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1848-07-21
SPOTS IN THE SUN.


We find that these spots are not fixed,
but are continually dashing along the cen
tire of the sun. Now, when we come to
the consideration of the spots themselves,
we find them characterised by certain re-
markabIe Phenomena, which will enable us
to ascertain their cause. A spot never APP
pears twice in the same place, but although
they are not confined to a point they are
confined to regions. They always appear
in the suns torrd zone. We never find
the spot breaking out beyond that belt
Then, again, on looking more mnutely, we
find the spots themselves have mouon-a
motion besides that which the rotation 81
the sun causes, and it is most PECULIAR
We find that the spots which appear north
of the suns equator, move slowly toward
the north, till they get TO the temperate rec
gions, and then disappear. No instance has
been known of spots form ed IN the north
going south. Just SO, spots OF the south
move toward the south temp zone ana
disappear.
There is still another circumstance char
acterizing the mode in which they disap-
pear. Sometimes they 60 on to the sun ;
temperate regions, and then die away. AT
other times, they do not disappear IN tins
manner, but split up just as if they were eX-
ploded bv some violent force. This phen-
omcna had the good fortune once to wit
ness. tits remarkable. 1t has been COM
pared TO this: Suppose person be stan
ding on frozen pond should take up piece
Office and cast it from him. Now, this mass
of ice would be broken into vast number
or fragments, which would be scattered
over the surface of the pond. This IS eX-
actIv the manner in which these spots APP
pear to be dashed and scattered over The sur
face of the sun.
These spots are supposed to be hurrl-
canes, or violent winds in the suns atmos-
Dhere. But can winds exist in the sun =
What is the cause Of winds is simply this
The atmosphere in different portions OF our
globe is unequaIly heated. lfall parts were
heated in the same degree, there would be
no winds. One cause in the difference oil
heat on the earth is the shining of The sun.
At the torrid zone his rays are vertical, or
nearly so, which renders his heat intense,
while at the north and south, his rays are
very obIique; consequently, the degree OF
heat in those regions is much less than 1t IS
at the torrid zone. Now, ii IS Impossible
that this cause should operate to produce
winds in the sun. There is another I'M
portantcause. however, ofwinds IN the earth
which NAV exist in the sun, VIZ: differ
ence in materials This difference is such
that if the rays Of the sun should come
down exactly the same on all parts Of the
earth. the difference in the degrees Of heat
would be very great. Take, for instance.
case of the sun shining on sand and on the
water. The sand on the margin Of a river
may be scorching hot, while the water is
yerv cool. Now, where are the hot regions
on the sun, and where are the cold =
Where is the continent! and where is the
ocean! Now. this inference is within the
range of science. There Is. however, a diff
6cultv in carrying the explanation out. II
is very probable thatthe phenomena, Of these
hurricanes of ours are owing 70 the trade
vinds. Now we cannot determine trade