The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1881-08-19
STORMS IN THE SUN.
The Fierce Cyclones Which Astronomers OBJ
served n July.
Nesc York Sun.

Neo York Sun.
June closed with peaceful skies after the
tOrnadoes and thunder storms of the mid
die "f the month, and July opened with
summer quietude prevailing all around the
globe. The elements were at peace upon
the earth. But on the sun there was diff
ferent scene. Through the still air on the
afternoon Of July lst the astronomer pointed
his telescope al the great fire globe that gives
the earth light and life, and its rays fell upon
the lenses with perfect steadiness, and, bend
ing obediently TO the focus Of the instru-
ment, m.de an image Of the sun That, when
magnifed, was as exclusively sharp and
clear AS though carved In gold by master
jeweler. 1t required but glance to show
that this splendid hall, which the astronomer
knew was 100000 miles In diameter, though
1t hung. with room to spare, in the circular
field OF the eye piece, was wrinkled and pit
ted, torn, tossed aud heaving under the strain
Of tempest forces. There were vast groups
Of spots, individual membeH of which GOV.
cred more square miles than all the conti-
nenls Of the earth There were small
specks barely visible when greatly nagnifed,
aud around all were the crinkled lines of
facula brighter than the rest Of the surface
and crowded together In places, resembling
q sea Of flames seen from above. 1t required
going on under the eye Of the observer.
slight compared with the vast extent of the
material, Yet involving motions that have no
parallel OIL the earth. The astronomer had
only to apply spectroscope to see that all
around the sun were fiery protuberances
thrown out like jets from a geyser to a
height Of thousands aud tens of thousands
Of miles, aud settling back in clouds of
glowing vapOr. So, in the calm of q sum
mer afternoon and at the safe distance of
92,0OO,O 900 miles, he could watch the storms
on the sun, trace the course Of fiery cyclones
blowing hundred miles second, and study
feet Of forces that would shatter and vaporiLe
the earth. Ye, the enormous distance that
separates the earth from the sun Is not in all
respects as safe as il seems. Sun storms
certainly have a powerful effect upon the
electrical condition of the earth, and 1t Is
suspected that they may affect the earth's
weather.
The sun was storm swept throughout the
whole month. The clear air that ringed the
earth on the lst was soon after filled with
clouds and thunder-sturins, and was swirled
here and there into death-dealing tornadoes,
so that the astronomers telescope became
useless. But In all the intervals of fair
weather It showed the suns face yet spotted
and wrinkled and trimmed with eruptions of
flaming gas. In the middle Of the month
some Of the spots, or holes, were Of enor-
inous magnitude, and Of wonderful COM
plexity in shade and detail. Again at the
close Of the month, huge groups and rows Of
spots were stretched across the disc, and the
view with high magnifers was startling and
exceedingly impressive. ...
The most that astronomers are able to say
with confidence about these spots Is that they
are holes Of size and depth almost beyond
belief; that they are produced by disturb
ances In the glowing matter Of the sun, and
that they are governed by some law that
causes them TO wax aud wane In number In
q period OF about eleven years. There were
no spots to speak Of in 1878; they began to
appear frequently in 1880; in 1888 they will
be most numerous, and in 1880 will again be
free from them.