Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1869-10-26
Storms in the Sun.
From the Providence tR. IL yourdal.

ali previous theories as to its consti-
tuition, and province in the economy
OF the universe. Lie Is now an estab-
llshed fact, that the gaseous envelop
surrounding the sun, called the
chromosphere, is in highly excita-
ole condition, sending out forked
tongues of glowing hydrogen in
every direction from it's surface
These Pickering streams of light ex-
tend to the enormous distance of
from seventy to q hundred thousand
miles, and often times take on most
fantastic forms. Seven of them were
photographed during the recent to-
tai eclipse, the largest one resembl-
ing ship under full sail /; another
had branching horns those of an
antelope and each curious protuber-
ance possessed character peculiarly
It's own. Moreover, great periodical
disturbances take place in this seeth-
ing caldron OF blazing gas, which are
called magnetic storms, and which
stran gely enough, are now thought
to be produced by certain combina-
tlons IN the movements of the little
solid bodies, on one of which we
live, in their revolution round the
sun.
There is every threatening appear
ance now manifest that we are on
the confines of great epoch of
magnetic storm. The sun has re
Gently been exhibiting surprising
forms OF disturbance, and presenting
to sclent ihc eyes features which in
extent and rapidity of motion are
almost lncomprehensible Vastspots
have appeared, whose Dimensions
must be estimated by millions of
square miles, and have presented
rapid changes of figure, indicating
the action OF forces of uncomfortable
intensity, and moving with velocity
of which figures give no idea. Mr.
Huggins recently traced the course
OF one which moved 1000 miles 10
a second. Clusters of smaller spots
have exhibited every conceivable
form OF solar disturbance, and every
degree of light from the apparent
blackness of the nuclei, to the in
tense brilliancy ofthe fabulous ridges.
Neither are these disturbances
simply matters Of serious speculation
which, occurring at distance Of
more than ninety millions of miles,
are of no practical Importance. For
| the startling fact is well established.
that the changes now going on in
the physical constitution of the sun
most powerfully affect the electric
condition of our earth. These
changes have in former years caused
violent disturbances in magnetic ia
struments all over the world, and
seem to be mysteriously and init
mately connected with the most
magnificent auroral displays which
have ever been witnessed.
| The solar magnetic storms, like
everything else in the universe, are
regulated by fixed laws. They occur
at regular intervals of eleven years.
The last one took place in 1859: we
may therefore look for it's recurrence
in the coming year, 1870. Some
very interesting observations were
made of the one that occurred in
I 1889, by two astronomers, Messrs
/ Hodgson and Darlington, one being
at Oxford, and the other in London,
where they were at the same mo-
mept carefully examining q large
group of sun spots. Suddenly, two
intensely bright patches of light ap-
peared in front of the cluster. They
were of such surprising briIliancy
that the observers thought the
darkening screens attached to their
telescopes must have been broken,
and the full blaze Of the sunlight let
| in. This was not the case, however;
but some mysterious process was
/ going on upon the suns surface, at
tended with such rapidity of motion
that in FIVE minutes the spots travel
ed over a space of thirty-four thous-
and miles.
At the Kew Observatory there are
selt-registering magnetic instruments
which indicate the process of change
by which the subtle influences of
terrestrial magnetism wax and wans.
In quiescent state of the great ter
restrial magnet, the line traced by
the pointer will be marked by uu-
dulations which are scarcely per-
ceptible. La more excitable con-
dition, well-marked waves along the
line show the pulsations of the
magnetic system in manner per-
fectly ineligible to the practiced
operator. And there is third form
Of disturbance, where the sharp,
sudden jerks of the pointer exhibit
the occurrence Of those mysterious
phenomena which are called magne-
tic storms :
When the record of the Kew OBJ
servatory were examined, it was
found that at the exact instan in
which the brilliant spots of light had
appeared to Messrs Hodgson and
Darlington, the self-registering Sin
struments had been subjected to the
third and most significant form of
disturbance a great magnetic storm
let loose it's pent up forces just as
the light broke suddenly forth
Neither was this the sole evidence
of the sympathy between the sun
and its planetary subordinate. 1t
was afterwards found that the whole
frame of the earth had thrilled under
the magnetic influence.
In the West Indies, in South
America, in Australia, wherever
magnetic observations are systema-
sically made, the same remarkabl
developments were registered. In
the telegraph stations at Washington
!, and Philapelphia, the signalmen re-
J eeived strong electrica shocks. In
Norway, teiegraphic machinery was
set on fire. The pen of Bain's tele-
: graph was followed by a flame
Wherever telegraphic wires were
found, well-marked indications o.
. violent action were manifested