Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1859-11-05

Spots on THE SCN.--During the whole of
the present year the spots on the sun have been
very numerous, and in many instances of large
size As is well known they come on upon the
eastern limb and disappear on the western, oc-
cupving little less than fourteen days in cross
ing the suns disc. Seen with an ordinary as
Economical telescope, which inverts the object,
the spots appear on the western limb and dis
appear on the eastern. The spots are some
times single, or isolated dark spots more or less
irregular il form, but always surrounded with
pretty well confined penumbra, and sometimes
in groups of many spots irreguarly thrown to-
gether and included within the penumbral re-
gion. These, from their proximity to each 9TH
cr and from the manifest and frequent changes
which occur among them, are evidently depend
ent 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 somewhat above the
center tin an inverting telescope,) which en-
braces central black spot of unusually large
size, surrounded by penumbral region still
more remarkable for extent than the spot itself
My attention was drawn to this spot six or sew
Z
over the edge of the sun. The form and size
of the spot and penumbra have undergone
marked daily changes. Two days ago the pc
numbra was pretty well 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
1t might be compared to vast tornadoes, raging
over tens of thousands 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 |
and . p. M, the spots appear with remarkable
diStnctness The atmosphere was clear in the
direction of the sun, but more than that, it was
in fine optical state. The suns limb was
sharply defined without any tremor or glimmer
or wavy appearance which often disturbs the
view in cloudless sky To-day the spots and
penumbral regions are defined with singular
sharpness. have seldom or ever seen them
more so. The disturbed penumbral regions o
which have spoken, to-day for the first time
revealed many minute black spots scattered ov
er the disturbed region. They seemed to b'
breathing holes or pores through the luminous
atmosphere. The central black spot has also
passed through changes of form equally mark
ed. Two or three days ago there were man,
patches of the luminous atmosphere projectin!
into it. Yesterday it was very much Of the form
of huge fish. With a little aid of the imag
nation, the head, the pectoral, and dorsal fin
ard tail could easily be seen. To day thes
prominent parts are all softened down, and tn
, form has become more distinctly oval. Tn
theory of these spots we shall not attempt t
discuss at this time.-Prof CaSweH inthe Pror
idence journal.