The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-06-07

laid down for him by terrestrial OBJ
servers in regard to his spot producing
activity. As is well known the suns
spot cycle is completed in little more
than eleven years. For two or three
years the spots are larger and more
numerous, and continue so until the
cycle has reached its maximum. They
then begin to diminish, and in five or
six years reach the minimum; the pas
Sage OF another six years brings the re-
turn of the maximum and completes the
cycle. The intervals are, however, If
regular, and the laws of the period are
not determined with certainty.
The present irregularity is beyond
the usual bonds, and is unaccountable.
The last maximum of sun spots oc-
Cured in 1870, and the last minimum
in 1873. The return of the maximum
was, therefore, looked for in 1882, and
the return of the minimum is expected
in 1889. But the agitation of the solar
surface did not diminish in 1888, and
the activity continues thus far in 1884.
Astronomers who make solar physics
4 speciality are hard at work in the
Effort to find out the cause of this an
0malous proceeding on the part of the
great day star, and several of them
nave come to conclusions at variance
with each other, as is the case in most
theories about the sun.
NJ. Faye, the. distinguished French
astronomer, reports as the result of his
close observation that the solar activity
S actually decreasing. He thinks that
he number of days when the sun was
rec from spots was greater in 1888 than
t was in 1882; that the number will be
arger in 1884; and that the increase will
DC still more rapid in 1885, 1886, and so
On, until the minimum is reached in
1889. This careful observer is con
ir1ned in his view of the question from
he conclusions reached by Schwabe,
who Systematically observed the sun
Turing a large part of q long life. He
determined the periodicity, not by
counting the number OF spots, but by
acting the number of days the sun was
rec from spots. At the maximum
here is scarcely a day when spots are
act visible. After its passage there are
occasional days when the suns face is
lnmarred, the number increasing until
he minimum is reached, when the sun
5 clear of spots for nearly half the year,
1ftentimes for many days in succession.
NJ. Wolf, of Zurich, is the renowned
astronomer who, making use of the OBJ
seryations of Schwabe, tracing back
The periodicity to the time of Calico,
and proved its existence beyond q
doubt. He partially agrees With NJ.
Faye. According to VOLTS observa-
ton, the average of the relative num-
Der of spots is greater in 1888, but the
greatest monthly average is found in
1882. The number of days without
spots is four times greater in 1888 NJ.
Wolf thinks that, with our present
knowledge Of the sun, there is no
means of determining with certainty
when the spot cycle passed or will pass
the maximum.
NJ. Tacchini, the Director of the OBJ
servatory at Rome, whose views have
great weight in the scientific world,
holds q different theory. He come to
the conclusion that the solar activity
has increased since 1882. He reaches
this result by comparing the data col
lected in 1888 with those of the pre-
ceding year. Although the relative diff
ference in the number of spots was very
small, the number of groups in 1888
was much greater, and the extension
of the spots was truly extraordinary,
being double that of 1882. This was
especially the case in the last quarter of
1888: his more recent observations
show that the great activity has con-
tinued during January and February of
the presentyear. Therefore, NJ. Tacchini
asserts that the maximum of spots has
not vet been reached.
When skilled observers differ wide
~, it is safe to conclude that very little
is known about the sun. The existence
of the sun spot period may be consid-
cred as established; but its exact eX-
tent and its cause are as yet unknown,
and so is its connection with terrestrial
phenomena. Auroras and magnetic
nearly corresponding to that of sun
spots, and seem to be bound with them
by some ineXplicable tie, for they are
most frequent when sun spots are most
numerous. Whether the solar activity
is the cause of the earthquakes, vol
canic eruptions, cyclones, tornadoes
and the disturbances that follow in
their train is problem yet unsolved.
The sun hides his secrets from mortal
ken; we do not even know his exact
distance or diameter, nor can we ex-
pect in the present attainments of
science to find out the cause of the spots
with which the suns fair face has been
pitted and marred for several years.
Observation is the only key to reveal
the mystery. This great power is in
full and continuous action.
Many astronomers devote their lives
to the study of the suns face and his
surroundings. Not a day escapes, when
the sun shows his smiling face, that the
smallest mote on his surface is not
carefully noted, not a spot escapes the
eager eye of unwearied observers.
Some day when least expected the re-.
ward of the persevering workers will
be won. The duty and privilege of the
present generation and of generations
to come, are to labor and to wait
Meantime, if sun spots are the cause Of
the recent frightful agitations of the
earth's- crust and her atmospheric COM
motions, it is devoutly to be hoped that
the period will speedily reach its max
imum-if that event has not already
occurred--and that the great luminary
will subside into quiescence.-Sci Scientific
AnleTicQ22.