Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-01-07
geutrul 9utelIiSenee.
SINGULAR DISCOVERY OF SOLAR
~ PHYSICS.
Tho PheDemena OF Sun-spots.


The Phspemena OF sun-sPots.
The London Daily News says
Wehaye to record discovery in solar
physics which is, perhaps, as remarkable
as any which has ever been made by as
tronomers. Singularly enough, France
and England, as in the case OF so many
astronomical discoveries, may be said to
claim an equal share in this one, though
the eactual priority of discovery rests with
France. II .t.sss1
Our readers have heard good deal late
ly about the colored prominences which are
seen round the sun during the time OF total
eclipse, and we have already announced the
discovery (made during the recent great
eclipse) that these prominences are enor-
nous flames Of gas, and not-as has been
.supposed--e -either true solar clouds, float
ing at enormous elevations in the solar
atmosphere, OF large volumes of incandes-
cent liquid or solid matter, sustained in
some inoonceivable manner at great dis
lance from the true surface of the sun.
But the discovery which had thus been
effected interesting as it is-aforded no
information at all respecting the peculiar
titles of structure and arrangement pre-
sented by these singular prominences.
Astronomers had hoped much from the
chance which the great eclipse seemed TO
give them Of obtaining photographs of the
prorninences at periods separated by a con-
siderable interval Of time. But, 80 far as
is at present known, this hope has been
disappointed. Nor does it seem at all
likely that during any future eclipse so
favorable an opportunity viii occur. The
discovery we have now to deal with makes
this disappointment matter Of trifiing
significance. triA
"Two years or SO ago Mr. j.. Norman
Lockyer presented to the Royal Society a
paper, in which he dealt with two theories
which had been formed by NJ Faye
on the one hand, and by Messrs, De la
Rue, Stewart, and Loewy on the other,
respecting the phenomena of svn-spots
Accordingto one theory the spots were due
to an uprush of intensely heated gas, dis
sosiatino the true polar philosophers; &C
cording 10 the other the spots are due to o
downrush Of the solar atmosphere, sweep
ing away or else cooling portion Of the
incandescent philosophers. MIR. Lockyer
had been able TO dispose satisfactorily of
M Faye's theory, by applying the wonder
full powers of the speotroscopic analysis to
the subject He compared the spectrum
Of the spots with that Of the photosphere,
and he found that each spectrum was rain
bow-colored- that Of the spots much thu
fainter and crossed by dark lines thicker
than the corresponding lines Of tho spec
trum given by the photosphere. This
showed that the atmospheric layers
through which the light Of The spot
reaches us are thicker and denser Than
those through which the restof the suns
hight comes; and thus we learn that
downrush of vapor is the true cause OF the
solar spots. In the ncluding words Of
the paper in whicL uIlis subject was dis
cussed, Mr.. Lockyer remarks, May not
tho spectroscope afford us evidence Of the
existence of the red flames which total
eeipses have revealed to us in the suns
atmosphere, although theyescape all other
methods Of observation at other times
We believe we are safe IN saying that this
idea was presented TO the astronomical
world for the first time in these words,
Mr. Lockyer has been anticipated by
brief interval as respects the application Of
the method; but no doubt whatever seems
to exist as 70 his having been the first to
suggest it. -.lss-d
qHE D1soovERY. 4
.'Mr. Lockyer applied the spectroscope,
which he made use of III the researches
already mentioned, in seeking around the
edge of the solar disc for Indications Of the
existence of the red prominences. The
plan was to bring the brilliant solar spec
trum into view and then TO cause ii to be-
come narrower and narrower by directing
the telescope gradually further towards
the edge of the suns disc. The observer
hoped that when the telescope was
directed towards the place where the
prominences really were he should soc
their spectrum 1t might be-
fash out beyond The brighter one be-
longing TO the sun. But he was 'disap-
pointed the spectroscope he made use Of
had not the requisite qualities. He then
placed the construction Of more effect
i've spectroscope in the hands of Mr..
Browning, F. r. A. g., the optician, and 30
soon as this instrument was placed in his
hands--which was not until the autumn Of
the present year-he resumed his obserya-
tions. And now, OF length, he was re-
warded with succees. The spectrum Of
the red sierraS and prominences became
visible, and he snw that these objects were
gaseous, This discovery had already been
made by the members Of the expedition
sent out TO view the great eclipse Of Aug.
18th. vph 5siufs1 1
''But the Importance Of Mr. Lotkyef's
discovery was scarcely at all affected by
this circumstance, since we shall show
presently that. the observations which can
be made by the method are altogether
more valuable and significant than those
which were made during the great eclipse.
But strangely enough, DR. Jansen, who
commanded the French observing party,
had forestalled Mr.. Lockyer in the appI-
cation of this very method. II had oc-
curred to him that he ought to be able TO
see the spectro of tho prominenceB even
when the sun was not eclipseds though the
prominences themselves could not then be
seen. Whether this idea was original, or
whether he had heard Of the suggestion
made byM Mr.. Lockyer more than two years
ago, does not appear. Certain II is that
few days before Mr., Lockyer had success
fally applied the method, DR.. johnson had
shown that the spectrum Of the prominen4
ces can be distinctly seen when the sun is
shining with full splendor. A strange CO.
incidence this, almost as strange as that
which--through no fsult Of bis own de-
prived our great astronomer, Professor Ad-
AIMS, Of priority in the disc overy Of the
planet Neptune. Buts yet the strange
coincidsnce marked the announcement
Of the discovery. IL 10 said that only Q few
minutes after Mr. De IN Rue had stated the
nature of Mr.. Lookyer's discovery, before
the French Academy of Sciences. Doctor
Janssen's letter announcing the attainment
Of similar results, was placed IN tho hands
Of the president, ids,g's6a ~ II o.4l
yggglH rrst SCOPE fJkg
,.And now q few brief words on the ma
iure and scope Of this interesting disoov.
1ry. We have seem that what is required
p 4