Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1860-01-05
MISCELLANEOUS READING
SOLAR PHENOMENON.

Astronomers aud scientific men nave Deen
much interested in phenomenon observed
on the lst Of September last, upon the sur
face Of the sun. The Royal Astronomical
Society ot London have published an ac-
count If II, given by two observers at differ
cut points oi view. A Mr.. Darlington, who
has for some years past paid particular at
teutiun 10 the study Of spots upon the sun,
Was engaged at his customary Observation
on Thursday forenoon, September lst, when
he observed two patches Of intensely bright
and white light to break out, in q position
which he indicates upon diagram. His
first impression was that by some chance
his apparatus for obscuring the light had
been disturbed, for the brilliancy, even when
seen through screen, was fully equal 70
that Of direct sunlight; but he says:
by at once interrupung the current
observation, and causing the image to move,
saw | was an unprepared witness Of very
different affair. therefore noted down the
time by the chronometer, and seeing the
outburst to lie very rapidly on the increase,
beng somewhat tlurried by the surprise,
hastily ran tO call some one 10 witness the
exhibition with me, and on returning with
III 60 seconds, was mortified - find that il
was already much changed and enieebled.
Very shortly afterwards the last trace was
gone, and although | maintained strict
watch for nearly AZ hour, no recurrence
took place.
"At the last traces the patches had travel
ed considerably from their first position, and
vanished az two rapidly fading dots Of white
light The instant ol the first outbreak was
not - seconds different from llh, Ism.
Greenwich mean time, and lh. 23m. was
taken for the time Of disappearance. In
this lapse of five minutes, the two patches Of
light traverSed space oi about 80, 'JU miles.
1t was impossible On first Witnessing an ap-
pearance 50 similar to a sudden cOnhagra-
tiou, not tt expect D considerable result IN
the way of alteration of the details OF the
groupin which il occurred; and ! was certain.
" surprised, on referring to the sketch which
had carefully and satisfactorily land may
add fyrtunatciy,) finished before the occur
renee, al finding myself unable to recognize
any change whatever as having taken place.
The impression left upon me is that the
phenomenon took place at an elevation
considerably above the general surface Of
the sun, and accordingly altogether above
and over the great group il which i was
seen projected.
Both in figure and position the patches
Of light seemed entirely independent Of the
confagration Of the great spot, and Of its
parts, whether nucleus Or umbra"
Mr. Hodgson also chanced to be obser-
wing the sun al his house at Highgate, and
saw, what he styles a very brilliant star Of
light, much brighter than the suns surface,
most dazzling y the protected eye suddenly
appear, last about five minutes and suddenly
disappear. Mr.. Bond, the American astron-
omer thinks that the brilliant auroral dis
plays Of September lst and p, witnessed IN
America, ii Europe, in Australia, in South
America, and probably in the circumpo-
lar regions 81 both hemispheres, accompa
MED is usual by 4 magnetic storm, had
some connection with the condition Of
the suns surface, As observed BIZ Messrs.
Darlington aud Hodgson. Such connection
has been for several years suspected, and the
present evidence is cumulative - the point.
Mr. Bond says;
1T shows, too, the fearful intensity to
which the burning or chemical action taking
place On the sun surface, j. at times carried.
The brightest artificial light known, il said
ii become dark object when presented with
the surface ot the sun as back ground
What adequate conception can be formed %
the intense light of these spots, which ac-
cordimg to the description ot Mr. lIodgson,
sparkled like stars Of dazzling brilliaucy
upon its disc or Us related by Mr. Caring
ton, appeared ulte1sely Ly1gh end 1chite' in
contact with ordinary sunlight. ~ Hartford
GDHrQyR