The Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1885-1886, 1886-04-03
THOSE sun SPOTS.
Professor MansilI the Dise0verer OF
the Cause Of Them.-.COntending
Astronomers.

Of the appearance and disappearance OF
the black patches upon the face of the
sun, which scientists and astronomers for
wears past, have endeavored to discover
Prof. Calthrop has written number of |
to the Syracuse Journal
in which he endeavors to read the an
swer in the SUM-" and credits himself as
being responsible for the discovery OF the
recent meteorological developments.
Some years ago, however Professor
Mansill claims be made the discovery OF
what he considered the cause of the
sun spot period For seven or eight
years, he says, he studied the sun spot
system from monthly reports made by
other individuals, but principally from
the observations and reports made by
Prof. Todd, of the Lawrence Mass OBJ
servatory, but by this mode he claims to
have made but little progress. He there
fore commenced to make observations for
himself, upon the basis of his own theory,
which theory he had published fifteen
years ago--and which is that the sun is
Illuminated like the planets, by the plan
cts, and by or through undulating cleo
trio currents that undulate in a process OF
reciprocating currents between the sun
and planets similar 10 the electric cur
rents operating between electric bait
teries. These currents, Prof. Mans
sill claims, undulate between the
SUI and the planets, and be-
tween each and every one OF the other
planets, regulating their motions, densi-
ties and distances from each other, And
at times when these electric lines are in
terrupted by planetary conjunchons,
great storms, earth and electric convul>
sions often occur
By this theory the sun is supposed to
be developed in photosphere of gas and
vapor something like the earth's atmos e
phere and other plauets-not necessarily,
but not illuminated all around on account
of the planets reeiprocating electricity al
around the suns great volume of atmos-
phere, which is likely to be thousands Of
miles in depth. The theory advocated by
Prof. Mansill is that the sun spo
diminishes and developments are pro
duced by the volatile elements on thu
surface of the sun, absorbing electricity
from the planets and each other with al
absorbing force, which is powerful, anC
through these currents the atmosphere
upon the sun and ether bodies on receiv
ing these absorbed currents, expand anC
become Illuminated.
| Prof Mansill claims that by this theory
the sun does not possess more primar,
planets than it needs to illuminate ant
keep its great dark mass completely GOV
cred up and illuminated with its gases Of
all sides. There appears to be periods
when the Illuminating and stimulating
powers of all the suns planets are no
able to stimulate all the suns atmospher
sufficiently to expand it so that it ca
cover up the whole of the suns grea
black solld body.
By watching therefore the effects upol
the sun, when the planets are passin!
many or nearly all of their various po
sitions, Prof. Mrnsill says he finds th
sun spots are developed, when they ar
passing some of these positions, Will
the sun spots are diminished both in siz
an 1 numbers when the planets are passin!
certain other positions.
by daily observation for ten or twelv
months we have discovered" says Prof
Mansill, that whenever one princips
planet passed between the sun and an
other planet, that the groups and spot
already visible on the sun grew largel
blacker and more numerous and distinc
New spots and groups appeared on a
or any part Of the suns spot bel
Those that are partially yelled OF cloud
ed over are laid bare, made blackel
larger and apparently deeper and MOI
| distinct The ;n1;cotinp fbot tho r.rorn
nences on the solid body of the sun alon
the spot belt as being permanent, har
elevations, which are only covered owe
at times by the Illuminated atmosphere
gases or vapors OF the sun, when there
electric activity sufficient going Cd be
tween the sun and its planets to We
them (the spots) over.
Prof. Mansills theory briefly stated
that when two or more planets are in lor
gitudinal lines, that much of the electri
action is cut off from the sun, from th
furthermost planet to the sun, and tn
causing around the suns equator
shrinking of condensation and precipita
ton, also dividing of the suns case
vapors and photosphere-wh element
settle down as they msve towards tn
suns poles, and by thus laying bare til
solid prominences and elevations aroun
the sixty or seventy degrees Of the su
spot belt.
In view of the interview with Prof
Mansill on the discovery of new sun spo
as published in the ARGUS a few week
ago, the foregoing will be of especial il
terest TO the people Of Rock Island |
well as to the astronomical and scientif
world.
n a Valuable Werk.
. A valuable work for which the city