The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1869-09-10
MiGGell y u E nns.
From the London Spectator
The Solar Variability.

We know that our own sun Gc-
sembling in this probably most other solar
bodies of the same kind) is in so highly
fluid and eXcitabc a condition as to be
constantly sending out from its surface
forked tongues thousands of miles in ex-
tent of intiamed hydrogen gas, like the
Pickering streams of light from the stars
of a street illumination; and moreover, as
to be subject to great periodical disturb
ances, now called magnetic storms" which
are in all probability caused by certain
combinations in the movements of those
little solid bodies, on one of which we live
round the sun. Even now one such epoch
of magnetic storm seems to be thought
pretty near at hand. The sun has lately
been exhibiting the most surprising forms
of disturbance, and presenting to scientific
eyes less "iiXity" of essence than ever
Spots so vast that we must estimate their
dimensions by millions of square miles
have broken out from time 10 time, and
have presented rapid changes Of figure, in
dicating the action of forces of inconceiva-
bic intensity. Clusters of small spots, cx-
tending over yet yastcr areas, have exhibit
ted every form of disturbance known to the
solar physicist, and every degree of light,
from the apparent blackncss Gin reality
only relative) of the nuclei, to the intense
brilliancy of the fabulous ridges. And we
now know that these appearances are not
merely matters for the curious with which
as they happen at distance of above nine
ty millions OF miles, practical men need
not concern themselves. In point of fact,
it is by no means impossible that the issues
n rttvnr nf Al
religious agitation, may be closely bound
up with these phenomena if not, indeed
which is also quite possible sudden dis
appearance OF our whole system after the
fashion OF other solar systems which have
thus disappeared. This much, at least, is
certain, that the vast changes now going on
In the physical constitution of the sun are
changes which do most powerfully affect
the electric condition of our earth, which
have in former years caused the most vio-
lent disturbances in the various artificial
as well as natural electric apparatus Of the
world we live in, and which, to speak of
the least of all its possible effects, might,
just as well as not, happen some day to
throw the electric condition of every tele-
graphic cable on our planet, under the
sea or above it, into the most dire confil-
sion, and send down telegraphic compa-
MES shares to zero in lump, even if they
did not contriyc to telegraph to us, after
some strange inarticulate fashion, that
shares in all public companies, even in that
very limited public company, the human
race, are in a physical point of view, of
very doubtful value indeed. Let us cx-
plain briefly to what we alludc
On Spntambpr I 1870 chortly hnfnra
noon two Observation-Disclosures. Hodgson
and Carrington-one at Oxford, the other
in London, were at the same instant scru-
tinizing large group of sun spots. On
q sudden two intensely bright patches Of
light appeared in front Of the cluster. So
brilliant were they that the observers
thought the darkening screens attached to
their telescopes must have become fractur-
ed. But this was found not to be the case
The bright spots indicated some process
going on upon the suns surface-a process
OF such activity that within five minutes
the spots travelled over space of nearly
$4,000 miles. Now, at the Kew Observa-
! tory there are self-registering magnetic in
struments which indicate tho processes
OF change by which the subtle influences
ofterrestrial magnetism way and wane. At
one time the line traced by the pointer will
be marked by scarcely perceptible undula-
tons, indicating the almost quiescent state
OF the great terrestrial magnet At another
well-marked waves along the line exhibit
the pulsations of the magnetic system, in
fluonced in manner as yet unintelligible
to thephysicist. And then there is third
form of disturbance, the sharp sudden
jerks of the pointer exhibiting the occur
renee of those mysterious phenomena term
ed magnetic storms' When the records
OF the Kew Observatory came to be looked
over, it was found that at the very instant
in which the brilliant spots of light had
appeared to Messrs. Hodgson and CARING
ton, the selfregistering instruments had
been subjected to the third and most sig
nificant form of Disturbance magnetic