The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1879-02-27

IL
ably place Watson.s and Swift's obser-
vations beyond cavil. Independently of
the eclipse, the spectoscopic and photo
graphic observation of the sun has been
actively carried on during the past year,
especially by Jansen of Paris, and Tao
chini and others in Italy, the former
having invented most ingenious ap-
paratus, the photo -heliograph, by means
of which he is able to obtain larger and
much better defined photographs of the
suns disk than ever were obtained be-
fore.
SOLAR OXYGEN.
BY this means some very remarkable
results have been obtained. Higgins.
we may say here, has been continuing
his solid spectroscopic work, photo
graphing the spectra of the fixed stars.
An important contribution to this de-
partment of solar observation is the Just
published first part of the I" Publications
of the Asstrophysical Ga new and signifi-
cant term) Observatory OF Po.sdam, -
containing observations of sun spots
from October, 1871, to December, 1873.
by DIR. Sporer. Draper's announcement
Of the discovery of oxygen in the sun is
one of great moment, but we believe
some competent solar observers consid-
er the proof insufficient. A vast deal
has been written during the past year
by Broun, Balfour Stewart, Medium,
Blanford, Buchan, Faye and others on
the sun-spot period and its supposed
connection with certain terrestrial
phenomena. Jevons has made out q
wonderfully plausible case for their con-
nectiOn with commercial crises, Wal
ford with famines and Mr.. E. D.
Archibald with locust plaques. Although
the transit of Mercury has not the
important bearings attaching to like
event in the case of his sister planet
Venus, still it is of great astronomical
value, and that of May was rs care
fully observed by French and American
astronomers as weather and other con-
ditions would admit. Eleven new minor
planets have been added to the already
long list during the year. These now
number, we believe, one hundred and
ninety-one. OF other planetary observa-
tions, those of Asaph Hall on the satel-
ites of Mars should be mentioned. The
announcement that new crater had
been discovered in the moon astounded
astronomers at the time, though cool re-
flection showed that volcanic action
need not necessarily be supposed to be
at the bottom of it. The publication of
Newc0mb's "Lunar Researches :" is an
addition of great value to mathematical
astronomy, and the charts of Lohrmann
and Schmidt of the moon are each the
result of nearly half century's work.
In connection with astronomy we should
note the reorganization of the Paris OBJ.
annual report, with its summary of the
transit of Venus observations as far as
they bear on the suns distance
MR.. LOCKYER's THEORIES.
From the bewilderingly wide and va
ried field of physics we can not hope to
pluck any thing like representative
bouquet, but only one or two of the most
prominent flowers of research that have
blossomed during the past year. Mr.
Lockyer's implicit announcement of the
abo. .ition of the elements is universal in
its bearings, but belongs specially to
physics by the method of research fol-
lowed. Mr.. Lockyer does not pretend
to have completed his brief; and at this,
the preliminary, stage of his announce
ment, it is to be expected that he would
meet with adverse and even deprecia-
tory criticism. There is often too much
human nature among men of science,
and the older chemists must be naturally
piqued that so great triumph should
be gained in this irregular fashion on
their own ground. Should Mr.. Lock-
yer be able to complete his proof, then
1878 will be red-letter year in the his
tory of scientific discovery. There can
be no doubt about the certainty and val
ne of the strange results achieved by
Mr.. Crookes in his recently described
experiments with rarefied gases by
means of his radiometer. The most
noteworthy point in Mr.. Crookes's ex-
periments is the revelation of kind of
ultra-gaseous state of matter which
comes into play when the number of
molecules in given space is enormous
ly reduced. Here molecular reflection
occurs, obeying the laws of. light, and
molecular foci are formed which can
raise to incandescence platinum foil.
Moreover, in this state the molecular
stream readily obeys the influence of
magnet. ALI Mr.. Crookes's recent as
well as his previous experiments have
given q remarkable confirmation of Mr..
Jehnstone Stoney's theoretical views
concerning the action Of the ridiometer.
The last named physicist has lately.
placed his theory upon firm mathe-
matical basis in a series of valuable ua.
pers contributed to the Transactions
of the Royal Dublin Society," society
which during the past year has exhibit
ed remarkable scientific activity. A
great deal of important work has been
registered in connection with spectre
scopic research. We can only mention
Abney's new method Of photographing
the least refranpible or red end of the