Smyrna times., 1859-10-27
ISCELLAN EO U s.
Spots on the Sun.


During the whole of the present year the
spsts on the sun have been very numerous, and
10 many instances of large size. AS is we'll
known, they come on upon the eastern limb and
disappear on the western, little less than four.
teen days in crossing the suns disc. Seen
with an ordinary astronomical telescope, which
inverts the object, the spots appear on the west
ern limb and disappear on the eastern. The
spots are sometimes single, or isolated dark
spots more or less irregular in form, but always
surrounded with pretty well defined penum-
bra, and sometimes in groups of many spots ir-
regularly thrown together and included within
the penumbrsl region. These, from their prox.
Unity to each other, and from the manifest aad
frequent changes which occur among them, are
evidently dependent upon the same cause Of
disturbance in the solar atmosphere.
At the present time there are eleven distinct
groups of spots to be seen. Two of these have
Just made their appearance on the western
edge, and two or three are passing off on the
other side. Among these groups there is one,
now about half way across, and some hat above
the centre Gin an inverting telescope). which
embraces aeentral black spot Of unusually large
size, surrounded by a penumbral region still
more remarkable for extent than the spot itself.
My attention was drawn 70 this spot six or sew.
en- days age. when it first appeared creeping
ever the edge H the sun. The form and size
Of the spot and penumbra have undergone
marked daily changes. Two days ago the pc
numbra was pretty we'll defined on the upper
side. and very broken and irregular on the low
er. or, more exactly, the southern and western
side of the spot On this side the disturbance
IN the solar atmosphere was of great extent
Il might be compared to vast tornadoes. raging
oVer tens of fhous an nds of miles Yesterday the
disturbance had evidently extended round to a
considerable distance on the other or north.
western side of the spot. To-day, between one
and two p m., the spots appear with remarkable
dislinctness The atmosphere was clear in the
direction of the sun. but more than that, it was
in q fine optical state. The suns limb was
sharply defined without any tremor or glimmer
or wayy appearance which often disturbs the
view in cloudless sky. To-day the spots and
penumbral regions are defined with singular
sharpness. l have seldom or ever seen them
more so. The disturbed penumbral regions of
which | have spoken, to-day for the first time
revealed many minute black spots scattered
over the disturbed region. They seemed 10 be
breathing holes or pores through the luminous
atmosphere The central black spot has also
passed through changes of form equally marked.
Two or three days ago there were many
patches Of the luminous atmosphere projecting
into il. Yesterday it was very much of the
form of & huge fish. With little aid Of the
imagination, the head, the pectoral, aud dorsal
6ns and tail could be easily seen. To-day
these prominent parts are ell softened down.
and the form has become more distinctly oval.
The theory Of these spots we shall not attempt
to discuss at this time.-Prof. CasweH in the
Providence Journal.