The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-09-30
ASTRONOMICAL.
Remarkable Solar PhcnomeDa-WOnderful
Commotion on the solar Surfnce--Obs crva-
tons by Professor Langley, Of the AlIe-
RheuY lPa.l, Uliversity.

| Nenarkr bic Solar PhcncmeDa--Wonderfu
| Commotion on the solar surfnce--Obs crva-
lions by Professor Langley, Of the ALE.
gheuy (Pa.l, University.
From the PiItsburg Pa Commercial, Sept 27.]
OBSERVATORY, ALLEGHENY, Sept %, 1870.
The appearance Of spots on the sun large enough
to be visible to the NAKED eve u rare occurrence
but 1t may now nodced by any one who takes the
through large telescope Is one just now Of Sim
Rulsr Interest," and 1t seems TO claim special atten-
Here, where the remarkable changes OF the solar
surface have formed the subject Of repeated 0bserva
made, aud their singular variations have been the
object OF most Interested scrutiny.
The side OF the turned toward us Is to-day
covered with hundreds OF them OF oil sizes ana In
all stages Of growth, while the opposite SIDE to be
presented to Us few days later, IL comparatively
bare.
The area OF one OF the large spots, which Is now
near the centre OF the disc, has been computed
from careful measurements and found TO exceed
$500, OoO, 900 square miles. Such immense numbers
convey no very definite impression, and perhaps q
more vivid idea Of the size may be gained by com
pairing It with that Of the earth, whose entire Is
less tRan tenth part OF that just given.
This Ii the area OF the penumbrar-a immense ex.
panse Of variegated forms, crossed BY channels and
convergent streams OF luminous NATTER all shifting
under an action like that OF some whrlwind which
Is twisting them from one position TO another ana
changing their forms from hour 10 hour. The cur
rent sometimes appears to rush downward carrying
It'll it great masses Of the luminous matter to lower
depths and opening as 1t does SO black cavities Of
size commensurate with the scale on which TINS &C.
ton Is carried on
The largest of these cavities is seen to be over.
hung with parts OF the brilliant surface, which
bly, break away In enormous portions and sink in II
out OF sight, Indeed, II Is quite within the truth to
say that a globe the size OF the world might be
sible TO convey adequate idea Of the impression OF
nnute and exhaustiess energy OF which Is
conscious while behOldng this with adequate optl-
col AID Masses the size OF whole continents ut
terly changed in shape or disappear rom day to
another. sometimes while the observer watches
them, and whole .Spot'' Is to all appearance
being slowly rotated ny the cyclones which are wis.,
bly, working there.
This Is one OF many centres OF similar action not
all the same scale, but battling the eye by their
number. and fncessant change OF form, which the
draughtsnan labors after in vain, and which even
the photograph can but imperfecty render. At ono
OF our largest Observatores the photograph Is
ployed TO make q daily chart OF these changes and
an inspection OF Its truthful ana unbiased record
Will convey more conclusive sense OF the almost
awful magnitude and energy OF the solar forces than
the most vivid description.
One who has been accustomed 10 watch them must
feel the inadequacy OF any attempt to describe these
"BpOts and still more OF the futility OF trying to
convey his own impression by any extravaganza Of
description o. comparison.
The wonder must lie In the consideration OF au-
thenic measurements, which are LETT TO tell their
own story.
The public may not share the Interest OF the pro-
feSSi0nal observer In such matters, but our own
planet Is too intimately connected with these phe-
nOmena not to make them Claim some interest from
all Of us. Why the magnetic needles move re-
sponslvey to these great changes in the sum- why
more frequently repeated as this solar action is
violent, are questions which astronomy Is now Try
ing answer. The TACT That they do so Is certain
the cause is still wholly unknown to science.