The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-01
Tho sun-Doctors Differ.

All the astronomers who have taken OBJ
servations of the late solar eclipse from sta
tons in the West agree in the importance OF
the revelations made. The great luminary
is pronounced to be in state Of compare
tive quiescence, for which, in spite of the
alleged law of the periodicity Of sun spots,
they appear to have been somewhat unpre-
pared. Only one protuberance was noted,
and the corona gave continuous spectrum
from which the green line 1474 X was
missing, showing, according to, Professor
Draper, that it consists of band of
continuous light solely due to reflection.
The low energy of the sun, and its conse-
quent lack Of masses of ignited vapor pro-
jected beyond the chromosphere, is held to
account for the absence Of the green line,
which represents the unknown substance.
probably n very light gas, and which is called
helium for want of a better term. This
apparent lessening of the vitality Of the
sun appears to Professor Draper as some
thing which at the first blush should in
duce wonderful changes in the climate of
the earth, but in the fact that no such
mutations are noted on this globe he con-
cludes that the abnormal condition of the
sun at the eleven year period of maximum
sun spots counts but little against
the total amount of heat sent out
at all times" He therefore sees
no portent of ill to climate or crops in the
activity or quiescence of the sun. Not SO
Professor Lockyer, the famous English
astronomer. The absence of the green line
shows great reduction In the temperature
of the sun, and should, he thinks, pro-
duce corresponding changes on the earth.
He would not be surprised at serious re-
connection between sun spots and
droughts which produce famines. he holds
proven. Terrestrial magnetism, he points
out, has been less energetic dur
ing the past four years than during
the preceding forty. Mr.. Morton, of the
Stevens Institute, follows the English scien-
tist in gloomy, or, rather, fiery fore
casts He, too, is surprised that no
great changes have occurred. The abb
sence Of the green line shows that
the self-1uminous gaseous matter pre-
viously observed in the corona is only q
temporary occupant. He thinks that he
sees an argument in favor Of the old theory
that the sun is fed by meteorites, huge
iron bolts fired at Old Sol, and he
cannot shake from his mind the belief
that such changes are liable to occur on
earth as would make the Pole tropical. It
is comforting that Professor Ran
yard, of England, agrees with our
American astronomer, DR.. Draper, and
is not prey to fears Of an intolerable
increase of solar heat on the earth or its
equally intolerable diminution. Professor
Loder also keeps his imagination cool. We
presume that little later these learned
sun doctors will come little nearer
to an agreement on the temperature OF
their illustrious patient, but at present
the average citizen, while convinced
that there is great astronomical eru-
dition just now at Denver, will have
chance for choosing his own invorite from
among the many contradictory deductions
drawn by the astronomers. The growing
certainty about the discovery of the new
star at only fifteen million miles from the
sun looks like the probability of a great
posthumous triumph for lie Verrier.