New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-23
THE "ATMOSPHEREn OF THE SUN.
LETTER FROM PROFESSOR c. A. YOUNG.

LETTER FROM PROFESSOR c. A. YOUNG.
To me Editor Of Thc Trtoune
SIR: An editorial in TIE TRIBUNE Of No.
vember IS contains illusions TO myself which
require word in reply. criticised rather sharply
for saying that the atmosphere Of the dts coron
envelope is not atmosphere in the the
earths atmosphere" what mean simply this Grant
ing for tine moment that the Corona Is in part
aud largely composed OF an envelope OF exceed
ingly gaseous matter arOInt tue sul,-tle0
! say may call It an atmosphere, because being
gaseous, and attached TO eosncal body IL bears TO that
body relation analogous to that borne by atn)s-
phere to itself far the term is proper
But now further and on the contrary, the atmos
phere carries persons certain ideas 10
the distribution Of temperature, density etc. In Its diher
parts which based the fact that terrestrial
atmosphere nearly 1uescent and IN static equilibrium
under the force OF gravity, with temperature
than two three hundred degrees
above the absolute while The density OF the portion
accessible to human observation Is very considerable On
the the conditions immensely, AMI almost iucon-
ceivably different, that the term atmosphere" be-
comes very misleading There the equilibrium.
Is any is dynancal. statical, aud the
density, temperature and condition OF the gaseous
substance is far more nearly that OF the residual in
Cr)okess tube through which an induction coil IL
sending electrical discharges different from thai OF
ordinary air that Croocs thought he had found fourth
of matter. bearing such relation TO the gaseous
the gaseous does to the liquid.
submit that these facts justify my language We are
Obliged continually, the world 10 use old words
in enlarged senses and hence must keep careful
watch TO prevent the words from carrying with them
more or less than they really in the premises.
4 word A. Professor Hastngs's observations and
theory. observations certainly appear % prove that
the gaseous eOpe Is eX'osive than most
astronomers myself among them) have hitherto sup
posed. cannot imagine in the circumstances why the
1474 line should not DE visible clear To the top OF the
solar atmosphere" while II Is easy TO imagine various
ways which might be made TO appear o. extend con-
gia ahO M
observed elevation OF the l,i7i line exceeding the
greatest height OF the cOrOnal envelope that side or
the As to his dractOn mot dusiOnl theory Of the
corona would like pronounce definitely until
after careful examination OF the mathematical que tions
involved His result differ much from those of other
previous investigators 10 warrant suspension or
Judgment. Again Il Mr. Higgins H. right in supposlns
that he has obtained photographs OF the solar corona IN
full sunlight land OF his plates which the writer
has certainly look amazingly like it,, then Professor
Tasting must be wrong in attrbutng the corona To diff
fraction.
In conclusion may say that things stand do not
vet that theory OF the solar hitherto held
has been made absolutely untenabe in any OF its
sentIas; while time should be far from Will
ng its correctness very positively. We want
light and It will be TO come in few years
C.. A. Young,
Princeton, " j., Dec. l., 1888.