Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-04-25
sun sssru.s a.a Asrsras.
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From As Nsv YosA San
days ago without . telescope, and which there
10 strong reason to believe was connected With
the splendid auroFas and great magnetic distur,
Dances of last week, is now nearing the western
edge Of the sun. where, through the effect Of
roreshoFtening, it ia no longer visible without
optical aid. In the telescope It Is stin . won
derfnl object.
Reports from observat0ries In various parts Of
the country show that it has been noticed and
closely studied by the astronomers. On the 10th
inst, when it was approaching the center of the
disk, it exhibited the greatest disturbance A
portion Of the SUMS surface more than q thou
sand million square miles in extent was heaving
and whirling and tossing under the tremendous
forces ct work. ChasnS, some of which BY
measurement were several thousand miles
across, yawned within this area, their Jagged
and shining edges and deep purple abysses
showing splendidly even IN small telescopes
Bright tongues projected from the sides over
the central chasms, and In some places narrow
bridges of snowy Wilderness crossed them.
These holes were Of every conceivable size and
shape aud around them all was the vast penum-
bral shade, resting like veil upon the face of
the sun. and indicating to the trained observer
the limits and extent Of the great depressed
area in which the still deeper chasms were
formed.
All the minor features Of the great spot were
continually changing. An hours watching re-
vealed changes which, though slight compared
with the vast extent Of the spot. appeared mar
vellOus when q little figuring showed the
rapidfty of the motions that were taking place.
The evening of the 10Th was clear and the
sun could be watched until It touched the hori-
ION. The tremendous disturbances that had re-
vealed themselves during the afternoon cOntin-
ued at sunset. The astronomers put up their
telescopes to wait for the morning, when the
study Of the great spot could be renewed but
hardly had the twilight faded before in the
north. in the direction Of one of the eartll's
magnetic poles, pale green light began to
glow, and presently an arch was formed and
then the mysterious curtains OF the aurora
were silently swayed and shaken in the heavens
At the same time the telegraph lines and the
Atlantic cable were crippled. and the magnetic
needle showed the greatest excitement. The
effects of the great sun spots or rather the
effects of the forces which produced it. were be-
ing felt by the earth. and It was responding to
the magnetic thrill communicated from the
sun.
The great spot continued during the week to
show signs Of intense activity, and almost
every night the aurOral streamers were shaken
In the north, although the first display OF Sum
day night was unequalled by any that followed.
That the magnetic disturbance did not cease so
long as the auroras lasted those whose business
suffered through delays in the telegraph know
too well.
At first sight 1t seems startling proposition
to assert that the sun has It in it's power thus
to interfere with the workings of the Atlantic
cable, and to interrupt to no slight extent the
correspondence and business between two con-
tinents. Nothing that the ancient fable makers
related OF Ph9bus and his Car Of Day was more
wonderful than this. 1t would be yet more
startling, however, If those who believe that the
tornadoes and other atmospheric disturbances.
which have made this month of April remarkable
in meteorological annals, are also due to the
disturbances in the sun, could establish their
theories as scientific facts.
The power of the sun is only just beginning to
be appreciated, even by men of science, and it is
impossible to predict where the study that is
now being concentrated upon this subject win
end. Science has to-day no more splendid and
promising field omen to it,