Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1870-02-11

sometimes there are four, sometimes two.
-ometimes tx sucn projecting beamss Of
| tght. 10 Judging oi the degree Of accuracy
III such as-that the COZ ona has only lately
been made the suit act of special observe.
tion that the obs rvatiOns have generally
bteh made through tel, scopes which mag
n'hed too much 10 allow the whole disc of
the sun aud mOon ~ be seen AT once and
that the sketches have almost alwsys been
made irem memory at some subsequent
time. viii shos some of the reprrsrn ,a.
tious which have been published. that won
may more fully appreciate the diversity of
forms, assigned to the corona by different
observers.
The "cHROMosPHERE.n
In the views of to'al eclipses which I
have exhibited, you have probably observed
another strange appearance, which Is never
absent though often vailed from the naked
eye by the brilliaucy of its background Of
luminous radiance: allude to the excres.
cences from various portions OF the suns
disc, which are most frequently seen as
rose-co'pred, s'metimes, however, deep
red. clear white OF even yellow. These are
actually portions Of the sun, aud the NOON
IN her motion gradually hides those in front
OF her, aud diseioses those wbich are on the
ances, aud 1t is only within the last two
years that we have attained any definite
knowledge OF their character. They are
MT always even In apparent contact with
the sun, but often seem to float like clouds
above his sur face, and assume many fantas.
tic shapes, carved, forked, twisted and
jagged.
But 1t was the spectroscope, which at THE
,o'al eclipse of 1869 was for the first Tins
directed TO the protube rance, that the
largest additions to our knowledge are due
on that occasion, By means of this won
derful instrument il was found that the pro
tuberAnces are very unstable and variable
IN Their forms, and In fact merely local ag-
sregations of gast Gus medium which en-
tlrely surrounds the sun, and may at any
time be- detected by the spectroscope In
any part OF the limb. J. this envelope,
which Is real one, Lockyer proposed The
name OF "chTomospheIe," AMI its structure
and chemical composition have since that
time been the u' j-cs Of continual investi.
CATION by numerous observers. 1t has been
satisfactorily estsbiis ted that the light
which II sends Ms is chiefly due to the in
csndescent hydrogen, and usually contains
inhicatiOns OF the presence OF sodium, ha
rum, magnesium, iron, and perhaps other
metallic eleInen =,
MEcHAS.c.LtRutS OF THE srx,s ,our avn
NEAT
| will exhibir 6n,l,y two photo0ranbs If
the eel pse OF last August, one by III. Nan
tical Almanac party, with short exposure,
and ex'ihitrg Ut iiI - cornnsl radiance
and ono by III, Coast Survey p.rty wi,h
much larg.r eA pnsutr, and showing a very
considerable Al nv runni the suu. On tbis
occas' on gave NV own particular attsn.
ton to the fnrui of the corouu. and the Al.
rectipus of prominent beAus. and devoted
large share Of the tire. minutes 60 m-as-
uring it, dimensions aud skrtchin9 its out.
line. Here are three drawings Uf its. Az
prarance al iut. tv.l, OF a mi ,ut.. and I
think they establish the TACT that for The !
same observers, srd at the same place, IL,
aspect is undergo ny continual variation.
7 g facts being now manifest that the force. |
radiati' & from the sun cannot he due 10 |
combusi ion, liza much ms this would be in. |
adj qnate to sifo,d tho supply, aud yet,
Il at they must lie 10 process of continual |
Development from sources in which it pre- |