The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-04-26
The Sun at 1t Again.
Four Spots Moving Toward the Centre Of
the Solar Disk-The May Eclipse.
New YORK SUM-

Four remarkable spos 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 the solar disk. One Of
these spots is Of enormous size, riyalling
some of the great spots which we're seen at
the time of the violent magnetic storms of
last year, and the others are of unusual mag
nitude. They are not far apart, and appear
| to be drawing closer together. Even now,
although they are near the eastern edge Of
the sun, and consequently are seen consider
ably aslant, no telescope is needed to show
them like speck Of dust upon the shining
globe, When they get near the centre they
may be expected to make much more inn
posing appearance than they do now. So
great is the diameter of the sun that they
viii then be more than 100000 miles nearer
to us than when they first made their APP
| pearance at the edge Of the disk. This dis
lance. however, although upward Of twice
as great as the distance of the moon from
the earth, is so small compared with the 3d.
600. 600 miles which separate the sun and
the earth, that it win make practically little
difference In the appearance Of the spots.
Their greater 81 sz say and AsnGGtbRyss Wh he
they appear. Anybody can get clear con-
ception Of this by taking ball and drawing
a small picture upon one side of II. Only
when the ball is so presented to the eye that
the picture appears near the centre of the
visible hemisphere will it be seen to the
greatest advantage.
These spots and some large ones which
nl.< 4I.o cA IF he.
month. and which, IL they are yet In exls-
tence, must now be upon the side Of the sun
which is turned away from us, suggest the
interesting question whether sun spots reap
pear at intervals at the 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 IL is suspected
that several Of the spots of 1882 may have
reappeared In the same places after having
once vanished. Owing to the lack OF perma-
nent landmarks, 1t is exceedingly difficult to
determine whether there really are places
on the suns surface where spots appear
with special frequency. If it can be shown
that such places exist, very important
changes must be made in the present the0-
ries of the constitution Of the sun, and we
may be brought back to something resem-
bling William HerschePs conception OF
sun with solid nucleus comprising very
large portion of its bulk, and surrounded by
a luminous atmosphere, through which holes
are made by the eruption OF enormous vol
canoes or by other forms Of eruptiye force.
There are the weightiest reasons for belev
ing that the sun cannot possibly have such a
nucleus.
If the present activity of the sun contin-
ues for a month longer the astronomers who
have gone to the middle of the Southern
Pacific Ocean to observe the total solar
eclipse on May 6, will probably be witnesses
of magnificent spectacle. When great sun
spots are most numerous the mysterious en-
velopes surrounding the sun, which come
into view during total eclipse, appear to
the best advantage, present the most impos-
ing 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 an opportunity |
TO make most interesting and important adj |
ditions to our knowledge of the great ruler |
and center Of the solar system.