Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-12-10
rHE SUNSET PHENoMENoN.
It's Appearance in Europe and on the
Seas - Study by Astronomers and


It's Appearance in Europe and on the
Seas study by Astronomers and
Scientists.
The mysterious appearances preceding
sunrise and following sunset, which have
attracted so much attention during the
past few weeks. are still as much Of a
mystery as ever. Last night the heavy
bank of clouds and a slight rain that
fell over the city. excluded the phenome-
non from vision. The fact that the red
light has been observed in England and
other parts of Europe shows
that it is not due TO local influences.
The phenomenon has not only been ylsl-
bic over an immense extent Of territory,
but il has lasted several days, and has
been seen in the east before sunrise
as well as in the west after sunset, so
that any abnormal refractlOn IN the at
mOsphere would have to be Of almost in
credible persistence in order to account
for the observed appearances. Besides,
during this time there have been consld-
cradle atmospheric changes. especially IN
respect to temperature. These remark
able sunset displays have also been ac-
cOmpanied by a notably hazy appearance
Of the sky
A scientific authority says it is well
known that the earth is daily and nightly
majority OF which are almost instantly
consumed by the intense heat developed
as they dash into our atmosphere. The
products Of the combustion of these
meteors filter slowly down through the air,
and have been found in the shape of me-
tallic dust on the snow fields in the
Arctic regions, on mountain peaks IN
Europe, and in other similar localities.
being recognizable by their peculiar
,bop,f.oI aopopcnitior II il also known
that the solar system abounds with
swarms of meteOrs revolving around the
sun, and that the earth crosses the paths
Of a number of these, occasionally en-
cOuntering the swarms themselves.
The vast majority of these meteors are
very small, those that are seen weighing
on an average probably only few grams;
and since the telescope reveals millions
which escape the naked eve, II is reason
able to conclude that millions more are
too small to be seen even with
telescOpes-mere meteoric dust. There
are historic instances of supposed
falls of meteoric dust. the most remarka-
bic, perhaps, being that Of l'S3, When
Europe. part of Asia, and part OF North
America were covered for months with
drv fog or haze, which excited the great
est alarm. Prof. Brooks suggestion that
the earth has encountered cloud of me-
teOric dust is not, therefore, without
foundation in probability.
If the recent blazing sunsets have really
resulted from such a cause, they are likely
to continue, in a modified form, for some
time, gradually disappearing as the dust
sinks lower in the atmosphere. But,
although so many reasons can be adj
vanced which give probability to the
theory that meteOric dust is concerned in
the production of these strange sunset
effects, yet it cannot be considered as
proved. and some better explanation may
be offered. Whatever the true eXplana-
ton may turn out to be, however, every
| body seems to agree in the opinion that
the red glare in the west during the last
three or four evenings has been one of the
most singular spectacles beheld in the sky