The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-08-01
STARTLING DEDUCTIONS DRAWN.
Varied Views of Astronomers on
the Results Attained.
DECREASE OF THE SOLAR ENERGY
Famines in India and China
Accounted For.
EDISON'S PLAN FOR DISCOVERING STARS.
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE HxRALD.1

[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD
DENVER, Col, July 81, 1875.
The proposed convention Of the astronomers did
NOT tako place to-day, owing to the non-arriva Of
many OF the observers Several are already hcre,
but the majority are still at their encampments along
the line OF tho shadows belt engaged In packing
mp their instruments This delay, 1t 10
feared, may prevent the formal gathering,
as many Of the astronomers have made arrangements
for starting homsward tomorrow. Among those as
semblsd here tho strange results obtained being
discussed different sides being taken and eminent
astronomers are becoming moro and moro antagon
stic in their views. occupied the day In obtaining
OF the observations.
DR. DRAPER ON THE RESULTS.
DR.. Henry Draper, the chief Of the Rawlins expedi
ton, whose discovery Of the presence of oxygen In
the places him high in the ranks OF scientists and
entities his views to the greatest weight, said:-
Tue results which are obtained were entirely unex-
pectsd 1t had always been supposed that the
was characterized in the spectrum by line known
1,474, or, It Ia sometimes called, tho
green line, because OF being the green portion
of the spectrum. The observations OF this eclipse
upset this theory Up to tho present time there has
been considerable doubt expressed as to whether
there was any continuous spectrum derived from
reflection from tho sun. 1t has also been
regarded doubtful whether tho Fraunhafer lines
which In the suns spectrum, could also be
seen IN the spectrum of the corona This point is
settled by tho photographs which succeeded in
taking, as we'll as by tho ego observations.
PHOTOGRAPHS REVELATIONS.
Ny photographing arrangements were constructed
that the corona consisted OF ignited gas the spec
trum photograph would consist of ono or more rings
On the other hand, II tho light OF the corona was
continuous that Is derived solely by reflection from
the sun, q spectrum photograph would consist OF q
band OF light without any rings. was very much
surprised to find that the spectrum photograph
which took continuous band without rings.
My eye observations with an migrating spoetro-
scope gave precisely the result for tho
visible part OF the spectrum that the photograph
did tho ultra violet region. There NO indica-
ton small prominence OF any great eruption
in the We must therefore conclude that on this
occasion we have obtained what may be termed tho
truo spectrum Of the corona. On former occasions
the bright lines have been due TO gaseous
ignited matter thrown up from the sun Into
tho Tho observations made by Pro-
lessor Barker with an analyzing spcctroscope-
that IL, q spectroscopo furnished with q slit
showed the presence of numbers Of the Fraunhaufer
lines In the spectrum Of the corona end this cor
roborstss my Photographic results. The observa.
lions OF Professor Morton that the corona was
radially polarzed also confirms the same.
The impression that the made on the
OF small PARTICLES surrounding the and re-
nectiny his light to eyes As I was In
the dark Photographic room OF the observatory
until just before the commencement Of totally
my eyes were exceedingly sensitive, and /
noticed that the corona extended than a Degree
preceding the along the limo Of the eeliplic II
not long in the direction following tho The
matter which all previous eclipse observations
found TO be injected from the into the corona 10
distance of half million miles from tho sun
may been sustained there by the attraction
OF small particles Of tho That such mat
ter 10 not In the corona now is beyond dispute, az
proved by oil the green limo OF the spcc-
trumL
QUIET CONDITION or Sun.
With regard to tho quiet condition Of the sun, as
evidenced by absence protuberances Dr. Draper
said:-
II did not anticipate seeing any largo promine nses
In edge Of the day OF the eclipse because
had carefully gone around the .ntiro odge Of the
the day previous with our large telescope and
found that the chromosphcr or 1rst atmosphere OF
the sun very low, merely consisting OF short
tongues Of DIRE. The chromosphere low that
It's lines impress themselves on tho spectrum
Photographic
IL il rather singular while the has been In such
quiescent condition for moro than two years that
have not seen more cha ngcs In the climate OF the
carlD. This would to show that tho
abnormal condition OF tho sun at the ma imum
period OF spots which every eleven years.
for ttle against the total amount OF heat
that is from at all limos Tho present
observations 20 70 show that tho activity quicscnce
Of the make perceptaoe difference In the earths
condition. do not regard this most marked change
in the porteDdng any change In tho cendi-
ton OF either climate or crops.
AN ENGLISH AsrRoSoxER's DEDUCTIONS
As opposed to these views Norman Lockyer, o,
England, who stands high In tho astronomical CIRCLES
Of Europe. draws different deductions and some not
ltuo startling He said:-
1t Is q remarkable thing that alter all our past
study OF oclipses this ould have exhibited
phenomena tho least anticipated. II isoIatcs tho
matter that gives the continuous spectrum from
tho other known gaseous constituents Tho pres
eclipse has accomplished, II nothing else,
the excellent result Of intcnsiiying our knowledge
concerning the running down OF the solar energy.
With the roducuon of the number Of spots promIn
enccs for tho las, years. tho terrestrial magnetism,
has been less energetic than 10 has been
fer the preceding forty years. This would evidently
account for IT, well for the great famines In In.
da and China winch took place orly-iour years ago.
GREAT PRIME MOVER