The Portland daily press., 1865-03-27
Monday Morning, March ~, 1865.
The Source Of heat in the SIM.

III becomes necessary now that the presen
state OF our knowledge of the physical con
stltation of the sun should be examined. |
is lsregretted that it is not possible to give th,
steps by which discoveries have been made
or to discuss the claims of all the numerou:
laoorlous observers TO whom we are indebted
ier them. A general review of she subject is
all that our space allows, and the high claims
OF those astronomers whose names appear NOT
IN this article are by no means disallowed. -
When the sun is viewed through powerful
telescopes, its surIace-that is the luminous
envelope OF the mass--is seen to have peeu-
liar mottled or curdy appearance Arago pro-
posed that this envelope should be called the
pnotospnere. Eame now generally adopt
ed. BY the elder Herschel, the surface of this
Pnotospnere was compared to mother-of pearl.
Other astronomers have said that it resembles
the ocean on tranquil summer day. when its
surface is slightly crisped by gentle breeze
and an undulating play of light is reflected
from these little billows. Irregular lines of
light are sent back from the crests- of the
small waves, and, lines OF shadow indicate the
hollows.
Within the last few years, Mr.. Nasmyth has
discovered more remarkable condition than
any that had previously been supposed. Ex-
amining the solar sur ace with q line telescope
of grest penetrating power, this astronomer
has discovered objects which are pecculiarly
lens shaped. He describes them as more like
willow levaes" than any ything else; but
some other observers, since their discovery.
have iikened them to rice grains; and others
again, to some forms OF Diatomac@. These
leaved forms are different in size they are
not arranged in any order; they lie crossing
each other in all directions; and they have an
irregular motion among themselves. "They
are" says Mr. Nasmyth, ''arranged without
annrnapb fn atrioa o~,1a TO- !.
tails, but rather (if the term may be used1 in
sort Of regular random scattering,
Ihey are seen approaching to and receding
from each other, and sometimes assuming new
angular positions, so that the appearance, re-
sulting from the combination of simultaneous
motions amongst those forms, has been com
pared to dense shoal Of fish. which, indeed,
they resemble in shape. their size gives a
grand idea of the gigantic scale upon which
physical operations are carried out in the sun.
They cannot be less than a thousand miles in
length. and from two to three hundred miles
In breadth. naF aip lS
The most probable conjecture which has
been offered respecting those leaf or lens like
objects, is that the photosphere is an immense
ocean Of gaseous matter in state of intense
incaadescence, and that they are perspective
projections OF the sheets OF flame. Whatever
they may be, it is evident thatthey are the
immediate sources of solar light and heat
Here we have surrounding envelope OF pho
togenic matter, which pendulates with mighty
energies, and by communicating its motion to
the ETHEREAL medium, in settled space, produ-
ces heat and light in far distant worlds. We
have said that those forms have been compar.
ed to certain organisms and Herschel says,
Z Though it would be too daring to speak OF
such organizations as par taking OF the nature
of life, yet we do know that vital action is
competent TO develope heat, light, and elec
tricity." Can it be that there is truth in this
fine thought? May the pusings of vital mat
Ter in the central sun Of our system be the
source of all that light which crowds the
earth, and without doubt overspreads the 9th
er planets to which the sun is the mighty
minister Popular Science Review.