The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1872-08-18

INTERESTING LETTER OF PADRE okCChl, De-
Father secchi, writing from the observa-
tory of the College OF tho Jesuits, Rome, |
July 10, says: "'The great spots on the fece
of the san had entirely disappeared fos
some time past, but on July beauafnl
and laEgs one Dst ms' sHs prsssntsi
come remarkable variations. Very small
az frst and consisting Of little speckes 1t
gradually increased in size until 1t attained
che dimension Of 224 in diameter. But ies
sise was not It's principal distinction. It
snalysis. % il displayed Ia its centre come
violent eruptf0ns of hydrogen gas directly
visible In the centre Of o few nuclei, occa-
stoned By the reversing Of the rays Of thte
gas, "a also in those that surround and
cross them. Dense yapors OF soaiun;
over its vast area in such quantities, that
never remember to have witnessed the Ike
beforc. All this shows o renewed activity
| in these regions, which had Of late appear.
ca to be entirely tranquil. Tho motion OF
the'rays was confused ana sne Hn;ar i d.
sible, without the aid Of insecuments, 30
eiye q person ct distance any idea Of the
PHENOMENON. The spot In question was In
| the central hemisphere, and gradually In
clined 20 the eastern extremity OF the suns
disk.
Another striking sign, and contempt.
raneous one, was the existence OF violent
eruption observed on the extreme edge OF
Che San at few degrees distance from the
most eastern limit Of the spot q deg. from
, East -Northl. The morning W9s elo9aSy,
: and I vas unable to mako drawing ottne
. eun until about forty minutes past two ~
.. the Afternoon and at that time could
, only perceive q small jet OF very orl8ni
dame, alongside Of 3 great one OF hydrogen
gas. .r,uv the
: ,onnd ~ the entire surface Of the sun,
= vas surprised, on returning to the Same
spot. at about thirty minutes past three, u
> | notice q lively eruption, but not oy an!
u means an elevated one. At $3.50 IL va
> about so sec. but its viyacity was extreme
|. austained BY an infinite number Of rays
a proceeding from the edge Of the solar dice
= This cleud was formed besides Hydrogen
"a of an unknown substance, which gives OF
y the spectroseope vivid ray near the cen
3 . tire Of the two B and G, 90 that the renee Me-
- of raw. The rays Of the sodium, magne
;. alum and iron appeared, as it were, tEPsey
"a turyey, SO that theSe rays were IN 9nnno
- auce, TO cay nothing Of those OF the hyofo
"a gen. The movements and changes were
II S sapid as TO be easily perceived by %
y naked eve. At fifteen minutes to fouE the
~ attained the elevation Of a34 "a chllleme
30 tres. that is about ten terrestrial diameter
+ and their elevation was preserved prets
~ nearly all the time the phenomenon lasse,
The lines seemed to be multiplied, and
form. grOups, which, st times remains end e.
ho lThey looked to me like the legs Of insec
ne ne moving about. They were really f9rnt
We We Of danse rays, which now united and no
No separated, so that they were always !,
Ia motions. AT thirty minutes past four u
AT mass began to diminish IN intensity, r -
~ then was able to recognize its intern
"a organization. The. rays now assumed I
sU' arSSearance of acanthus leavee Burroun
r. in1 4 corinthian capital, and presented
most besatifol and wORdeuful aSes.
"a ave o'clock, the oTuptlon a8ain became
nj tense, covering over 10 solar oSg' anu