The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1870-10-13
REMARKABLE SOLAR PHENOMENA.
Wonderful Commotion on the Solar Sur
face-observations by Professor Langley
of the Hivrrity.


face-observations by Professor Langley
of the nivrr-ity.
OBSERVATORY. ALLEGHENY, D
September 26, 1870.
The appearance OF spots on the snu,
large enough 10 be visible to the naked
eve, is u rare occurrence, but it may
now be noticed by any one who takes
the trouble. The aspect of the sun,
through large telescope, is one, just
now, of singular interest, and it seems
to claim special attention from OBJ
servers.
Here, where the remarkable changes
of the solar surface have formed the
subject of repeated observation, daily
maps of the spots are made, and their
singular variations have been the OBJ
iect of most interested scrutiny.
The side of the sun now turned to-
wards us is to-day covered with hun
dreds of them of all sizes and in all
stages of growth, while the opposite
side to be presented to us few days
later, is comparatively bare.
The area of one of the large spots
which is now near the center of the
| disc, has been computed from careful
!
300,000,000 square miles. Such i'm
mense numbers convey no very def
mite impression, and perhaps more
vivid idea OF the size may be gained
by comparing it with the earth, whose
area is less than d tenth part of that
just given. ...- rs. f.
This is the area of the penumbra-
an immense expanse Of variegated
forms, crossed by channels and con-
vergent streams of luminous matter,
all shifting under all action like that
of some whirlwind which is twisting
them from one position to another,
and changing their forms from hour
to hour. The current sometimes ap-
pears to rush downward, carrying
with it great masses of the luminous
matter 10 lower depths, and opening
as it does so, black cavities of size
commensurate with the scale on which
this action is carried OIL.
The largest of these cavities is seen
10 be overhung with parts of the brill
liant surface, which visibly break away
in enormous portions amp sink in it.,
out OF sight; indeed, it Is quite within
the truth to say that globe the size of
the world might be dropped in with
out touching either side. 1t is i'm
possible to convey an adequate idea of
the impression of infinite and exhaust
less energy, of which one is conscious
while beholding this with the adequate
optical aid. Masses the size of whole
continents, are utterly changed in
shape or disappear from one day to
another, sometimes while the observer
watches them, and the whole spot"
is to all appearance being slowly ro-
tated by the cyclones which are visibly
working there. .-'
This is one of many centers of sim
liar action, not all Oh the same scale,
but battling The eye by their number
and incessant change of form, which
the draughtsman labors after in vain,
and which even the photograph can
but imperfectly render. at one of
our largest Observatories, the photo
graph is employed to make daily
chart of these changes, and an inspec-
ton of its truthful and unbiased record
will convey more conclusive sense
of the almost awful magnitude and
energy of the solar forces, than the
most vivid descriptiun. iH rnaH
One who has been accustomed to
watch them must feel the inadequacy
of any attempt to describe these
"spots," and still more SO the futility
of trying to convey his own impress
sion by any extravaganza Of descrip-
ton or comparison.
The wonder must lie i'll the consid-
Grafton of authentic measurements,
which are left TO tell their own story.
The public may not share the inter
est of the professional observer in
such matters, but our own planet is
too intimately connected with these
phenomena not TO make them claim
some interest from all of US. Why
these magnetic needles move respon-
sively to these great changes of the
sun, or why auroras will light up our
winter sky at intervals more frequent
ly repeated as this solar action is more
violent, are questions which astrono-
my is now trying to answer. The
fact that they do is certain; the cause
is still wholly unknown to science
Pittsburgh Post. ~. ..-... +.