The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1884-08-02

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, ir-
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
q speciality are hard at work in the
effort to find out the cause of this an
omalous proceeding on the part of the
great day star, and several OF them
have come to conclusions at variance
with each other, as is the case in most
theories about the sun.
M. Fave, the distinguished French
astronomer, reports as the result of his
close observation that the solar activity
is actually decreasing. He thinks that
the number of days when the sun was
free from spots was greater in 1883 than
| it was in 1882; that the number will be
larger in 1884; and that the increase will
be still more rapid in 1885, 1886, and so
on. until the minimum is reached in
1889. This careful observer is con-
firmed in his view of the question from
the conclusions reached by Schwabe,
who systematically observed the sun
during large part of long life. He
determined the periodicity, not by
counting the number OF spots, but by
| noting the number of days the sun was
free from spots. At the maximum
there is scarcely day when spots are
not visible. After its passage there are
occasional days when the suns face is
unmarried, the number increasing until
the minimum is reached, when the sun
is clear of spots for nearly half the year,
oftentimes for many days in succession.
| M. 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.
Fave. 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. M.
Wolf thinks that, with our present
knowledge of the sun, there is nc
means OF determining with certainty
when the spot cycle passed or will pas;
the maximum.
M. Tacchini, the Director of the OBJ
servatory at Rome. whose views have
great weight in the scientific world
holds q different theory. He come te
the conclusion that the solar activity
has increased since 1882. He reaches
this result by comparing the data col
lected in 1883 with those of the pre-
ceding year. Although the relative diff
ference in the number of spots was yer!
small, the number of groups in l8o'
was much greater, and the extension
of the spots was truly extraordinary
: being double that Of 1882. This wa
especially the case in the last quarter o
1883; his more recent observation
: show that the great activity has con
tinued during January and February o
9 the present year. Therefore. M. Tacchin
asserts that the maximum of spots ha
not vet been reached.
n Hlav xnr1fj
!! ly, it is safe to conclude that very littl
! is known about the sun. The existenc
. of the sun spot period may be consid
cred as established; but its exact es
4 tent and its cause are as yet unknown
u and so is its connection with terrestria
phenomena. Auroras and magnet
; disturbances are subject to q perio
u nearly corresponding to that of sn
spots, and seem to be bound with ther
IS by some inexplicable tie, for they ar
o most frequent when sun spots are mos
8 numerous. Whether the solar activit
n is the cause of the earthquakes, vo
L canic eruptions, cyclones. tornadot
( and the disturbances that follow
~ their train is a problem yet unsolye'
% The sun hides his secrets from mort
ken: we do not even know his exa
IS dista nee or diameter, nor can we q
e pect in the present attachments
% science to find out the cause OF the spo
with which the suns fair face has bee
pitted and married for several year
Observation is the only key to reve
!, the mystery. This great power is
: full and continuous action.
i. Many astronomers devote their lv
- to the study of the suns face and b
I. surroundings. Not day escapes, VIII.
= the sun shows his smiling face, that Il
~ smallest mote on his surface is n
y carefully noted. not spot escapes tt
:. eager eye Of unwearied observer
"A Some day when least expected the
- ward of the persevering workers W
- be won. The duty and privilege OF q
~ present generation and of generatio
- to come, are to labor and to wa
=. Meantime, if sun spots are the cause
u <-s~hkf,,1 Affiliations IF n