The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1883-04-15
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Four remarkable spots have made their
appearance on the sun within the last two
or three days. and are now advancing. with
inner motions like those OF . storm cloud.
toward the centre OF tho solar disk. Ono OF
these spots is OF enormous size rivalllng some
OF the great spots which were seen at the time
OF the violent magnetic storms OF last year. and
the others are OF unusual magnitude. They
are not far apart. and appear to DO drawing
closer together Even now although they are
near the eastern edge OF the sun. and conse-
Quently are seen considerably aslant. no stel-
escope Is needed to show them like apeck
OF dust upon the shining globe. When
they get near the centre they may DO
expected to make q much more lmpos-
Ing appearance than thoy do now. 80 great is
the diameter OF the sun that they will then DO
more than 400 900 miles nearer to us than when
they first made their appearance at the edge OF
the disk. This distance. however although
upward OF twice as great as tho distance OF tho
moon from the enrth. is 80 small compared with
the $4,000. 900 miles which separate the sun
and the earth that 1t will make practically little
difference In tho appearance OF the spots. Their
greater size and distinctness when soen near
the centre will be owing to the spherical form
Of the surface upon which they appear. Any
body can get n clear conception OF this by TAX
side Of It.. Only when the ball Is 30 presented
to tho eye that the picture appears near tho
centre OF the visible hems phcre will 1t be seen
to the greatest advantage.
Those spots and some large ones which were
soon about the Let Of the present month. and
which. II they are yet In existence. must
now be upon the side OF tho sun
which 10 turned away from us. suggest the in
teresting question whether sun spots reappear
at intervals at tho same places on the solar
globe. The location OF the spots now visible
closely resembles that OF some OF the great
spots Of last year and II Is suspected that SOW
eral Of tho spots Of 1882 may have rcappeared
In tho same places after having once vanished.
Owing TO the lack OF permanent landmarks. II
| Is exceedingly difficult to determine whether
there really are places on the suns surface
where spots appear with special frequency. II
| 1t can be shown that such places exist very i'm
| portant changes must be made In the present
theories OF tho constitution OF the sun. and we
| may be brought back to something resembling
William Herschers conception of q sun with
| O solid nucleus comprising a very large
| portion Of Its bulk. and surrounded by a lumi-
| nous atmosphere. through which holes are
| made by tho eruption OF enormous volcanoes
| or by other forms Of eruptive force. There are
the weightiest reasons for believing that the
| sun cannot possibly have such nucleus.
II the present activity OF the sun continues
for month longer the astronomers who have
gone to the middle OF the southern Pacific
Ocean to observe the total solar eclipse on
May will probably be witnesses Of magnifl.
cent spectacle. When great sun spots are most
numerous the mysterious envelopes surround.
ing the sun. which come into view during q
total eclipse. appear to the best advantage
present the most imposing and curious forms
and extend to the greatest distances. In case
the sun happens to be greatly disturbed about
the 9Th Of May these astronomers may have m
opportunity to make most interesting and i'm
| portant additions to our knowledge Of the
great ruler and centre Of the solar system.
| The opportunity to study sun spots like
those now visible will become less and less fire.
Quent from this time until nine or ten year.
hence. when another maximum point Of solal
activity will be reached.