Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1880-03-11
SUN SPOTS.
All Manner of CommotiOns ON the SUMS
Surface to be Expected for the Next
Two Years.

IL
Surface to be Expected for the Next
Two Years.
The sun for several years has been in
a quiescent condition, his surface being
almost free from spots. The great lu-
minary has been passing through his
minimum period, for the spot-producing
activity OF the sun is governed by laws
which the close observation Of the last
century is beginning to formulate, while
observers are still cropping in the dark in
the effort to comprehend the cause. 1t
takes about eleven years to complete the
circuit, though the intervals are some
what irregular. As the last maximum
occurred in 1870, it is time to anticipate
recurrence of solar activity, and re-
cent observation substantiates the
theory. A commotion is being stirred
up IN the sun, and large spots are diver
styling his disc. A recent observer de-
scribes double triangle of spots visible
on the sun, the larger one marked out
by spots including, perhaps, one seventh
OF the solar disc, and assuming the form
of right-angled triangle, with an OBJ
long purplish spot at each angle. A
more recent observer records the appear
ance of spot large enough to be visible
to the naked eye. This is d fine speci-
men of its class, with vast hole in the
center, and with broken and Jagged
edges. The penumbra, too, is broad
and well marked, and surrounds the
darker portion with a framework of
grayish hue. @ tf
We are Just entering upon the maxi
mum period of sun-spots. and for two
years to come we may expect all manner
of commotion on the solar surface
Spots will be numerous, some of them
will cover millions of square miles, and
some of them will remain for m onths.
Auroras will flash their flames in our
skies, and magnetic disturbances will
reach their extreme point. Then, the
period having passed, the spots will
gradually disappear, and apparent qui-
escence will reign on the surface of the
great solar orb until the approach of
another maximum period like the one on
which we are now entering.
Astronomers have puzzled their
brains in vain thus far in determining
the causes of these wonderful phenom-
ena. There is little doubt that the
greatest oscillations of the magnetic
needle, the most bril- liant displays of
aurora and the most powerful currents
of electricity occur when there are the
most sun spots, and plainly point to
some yet undiscovered relation between
them. Soma astronomer of tie present
age may have the good fortune to touch
upon the solution of the important ques-
ton. III the suns heat and light are
lessened when his disc is partially COW
cred with spots, then this period exerts
direct influence on the products of the
earth and affects the market price of
cereals. Herschel advanced the theory
that the greater the number of spots, the
less favorable were the solar rays to the
growth of corn. Observation has, how
ever, failed to affirm this assertion, or
to prove the direct connection of the
sun-spot period with the amount of rain
fail.
The question of sun spots is one,
therefore, of universal interest. Intel
ligent observers can study the signs of
the times as well as trained astronomers.
For two years to come there will be
spots on the sun visible TO the naked
eye, the great planets will approach to
their least distance from the sun, mag
netism will reach its greatest point of
oscillation, and electricity take on its
most brilliant manifestations, while the
crops may tail and the abundance Of
rainfall give evidence of participation
in the solar disturbance. Fortunate is
it for mortals that the succeeding calm
is as sure as the approaching commo-
Iion. For ages to come, sun and earth
will ho.d their present relations, diver
siied by these changes, which, while
ti.ey give variety to human experience,
afford stimulus to human intellect to
fathom the incomprehensible, and to
r'joice in even a slight glimpse into the
secret and symmetrical laws that con-
troll the seemingly erratic movements Of
the solar brotherhood, and of the grand
central orb which is the source of light
and heat.