The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-05-20
SUN SPOTS.
az Manners OF Comm Otions on Tho Sun's
Su, fsce 10 be Expected for the Next Two
ycnrs.

NVtINre ~ be APsNsNNs A"A s--~ @"~ ~- W.
Years.
The sun for several years has been in
,quicscent condition, his surfac being
,lmost free from spots. The great lu-
ninary has been passing through his
minimum period, for the spot-p oducing
,ctivity of the sun is governed by laws
which the close observation of the last
century s beginning to formulate, while
OBSERVES are still cropping in the dark in
he effort to comprehend the cause. 1t
takes about eleven years to complete the
circuit, though the intervals are some
what irregular. As the lat 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
ap in the sun, and large spots are diver
styling his disc, A recent observer de-
,cribes double triangle of spots visible
IN the sun, the larger one marked out
by spots including, perhaps, one-seventh
Of the solar disc, as assuming the form
Of right-angled triangle, with an OBJ
long purplish spot at each angle A
more recent observer records the appear
once of spot large enough to be visible
to the naked eye This is a fine speci-
men of its class, with vast hole in the
center, and with broken and jagged
edges The penumbra, too, is broad and
we'll marked, and surrounds the darker
portion with a framework of grayish
hue.
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 months
Auroras will fash 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-
essence will reign on the surface OF the
great solar orb until the approach of an
other 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 brilliant 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. Some astronomer of the present
age may have the good fortune to touch
upon the solution of the important ques.
ton. If the SUMS heat and light are
lessened when his disc is partially COW
cred with spots, then this per cd exerts
a direct influence on the products of the
earth and Affects the market price of
cereals. Herschcl advanced the theory
that the greater the number of spots, the
less favorable we're the soor 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
fall.
The question of sun spots is one,
therefore, of universal interest. Intel
lgent observers can study the signs Of
| lllt lIlltS us well no JldliICu
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 fail, 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 commot on.
For ages to come, sun and earth will
hold their present relations diversified
by these changes, which, while they
give variety to human experience, afford
stimulus to human intellect to fathom
the incomprehensible, and to rejoice
in even slight glimpse into the secret
and symmetrical laws that control
the seemingly cratic movements of the
solar brotherhood, and of the grand cen
trail orb whichis the source of light and
heat.