The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1879-05-16
SPOTS on g-.E SUN.
THEY WILL BE NUMEROUS THE NEXT TWO
YRARs--A NUMBER NOW VISIBLE.

The period is approaching when the
greatest number of spots appear on the
solar surface. Even at the present time
several are visible, and some of them seem
/ of considerable size. "A number of facts
seem to warrant the opinion of perhaps a
majority Of physicists that the changes on
the disc of the central luminary which the
spots show to be taking place influence
many phenomena on the earth. The vari-
atlons, therefore, from uniform brightness
on the great orb of day are at present
watched with an interest which was un-
known to the infancy of optical and as
Economical science. The discovery of the
icheckered physiognomy Of the solar star is
due to Galileo, though accounts of varia-
4 tions ia the SUMS light date as far back as
| the reign Of Augustus Cesar. In April,
1911, soon after the invention of the tele-
scope, spots were observed by the Floren-
entine astronomer, and nearly at the same
time by Schreiner, German Jesuit, and
Fabricius, the friend of Kepler. Being un-
acquainted with any means of diminishing
the intense glare. the first telescopists
were obliged to make their observations
through thin clouds or when the sun was
near the horizon. The blindness which
embittered the latter days of Calico was
no doubt caused by watching the sun spots,
and the elder Herschel lost one of his eyes
s1, ofl oJa 4,,Ir
phenomena.
It has been found from the examination
Of a long series observations that the times
of the greatest number of spots recur in
about eleven years. The last took place in
the summer Of 1871. In that year and the
preceding they were frequently observed
and measurements made of their size at
the Observatory in this city. On two oc-
casions spot was observed with the naked
eye which was at least $4,000 miles in di-
ameter. In 1889 spots of 20, 900 and even
IA, 900 miles are recorded. In 1916 they
were seen on several occasions without the
aid of the telescope.
The readiest way OF observing the spots
is to receive the image of the sun either on
screen or paper marked by perpendicular
and horizontal lines at an equal distance
from one another. Not only the outlines of
the spot, but also it's relative size can be
easily traced. Many theories have been
brought forward to account for the spots
on the solar surface, especially since the
rose-colored flames which appear during
total eclipse of that luminary have been
shown to be caused by hydrogen gas. But
with the exception of this fact and the
manifest effect of cyclone-like waves which
rise and produce disturbances in portions
of It's disc, the true causes of the changes
on the SUMS surface, with the exception of
those produced by some of the planets, as
well as the sources of its heat and light, are
unknown. ObseryatioEs of the spots now
appearing, and which will become more
numerous during the next two years.. may
enable physicists to determine many ques-
tions connected with the central luminary
which are now unanswered. The elder
Herschel supposed that the average tenn
perature of years in which large number
of spots appear on the solar surface is gen.
erally lower. This has not not been fully
proved, yet the summer of 1916, SO remark
able for large spots, was the coolest on rec
ord in the United States.