Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-06-23
sun SPOT CHANGES
May Possibly Have Influence on the
Unprecedented Rainfall
A TALK WITH PROF. F. W. VERY
Is Productive of Interesting Information
on the Weather.
RESULTS EXPECTED FROM THE CAMERA

A visit to the Allegheny Observatory and
a chat with the professors "who dwell
among the stars, " is always prolific of new
so little-the world Ger head. One of these
trips was made by DISPATCH reporter
yesterday.
The Observatory was deserted. Softly
knocking, then going inside, a stroll
through the workshop, the different libraries
and at last into the rotunda where the great
telescope is situated failed to disclose the
men who firt with the man in the moon.
Mr.. Brashear had left his home for the
city previous to the reporters visit. He
had been chasing the suns spots with
camera around the yard back of the bouse,
endeavoring to catch their likeness. He
was testing a new heliostat, or instrument
to make the suns rays stand still, according
to etymology. The instrument is being
made for Prof Simon Newcomb, superin-
tendent of the american EphemeriS, pub
hcation issued from Washington 0bserV-
atory.
CHASING SUNBEAMS ALSO.
Prof f. W. Very was also chasing SUM-
beams among the clover, but was at last caught
in his study rapt in thought and eschewing
the results of his observations, In chat
the professor gave some interesting facts
and food for good deal of solid thinking.
The unprecedent rainfall came natur-
ally to be the first topic broaehed.
Prof Very said, that continued
rainfalls in one location were often due to
simple law of nature. The first rain, falling,
cools the lower atmosphere and the ground
underneath. If warm moist clouds from
the South float Ger this spot they are con-
densed, and this process OF rains following
rains continues until some great upheaval
OF the atmosphere drives the moist clouds
BY and gives the location a chance to regain
its normal temperature.
This talk naturally led to the relation of
the weather TO astronomy and the possibil-
ity of its being foretold BY astronomical OBJ
Bervations.
THE ONLY SCIENTIFIC THEORY.
Prof. Very said that the only theory of
any scientific weight at all in regard to the
possibility of the planets affecting the
amount of rainfall was, that the position of
large planets like Jupiter might have a
great influence on the changes in the spots
on the sun, and thus affect solar radiation,
and there was possibility of a remote con-
1ection between these planetary positions
and the condition of the weather.
1t has been found that the spots on the sun
produce the least heat and they, taken as a
key, may be subject to unknown causes and
surrounded by influences that control solar
radiation. The radiation, of course, con-
trolls the condition of the atmosphere and it
the weather.
These influences on the suns spots and
they on radiation may be due to the posi-
tion of the planets, and if so, bv astronom-
ical observation it would be possible in the |
years to come to predict the weather by in
Etruments and observations. This would |
only apply to the general changes over GER |
tain large districts and local causes, such as
the condition of the soil. etc., which could |
furnish the key to the calculations for each
point
THE CAMERA MAY DO IT.
The camera is looked forward to as a
source of untold surprises in this direction,
SIS it catches things that the eye cannot COM
prehend. 1t gathers the impressions of an
object as long as exposed and with the &C.
eumulation of these impressions makes it
possible to catch much more than with the
naked eye, which gathers only one impress
sion.
The Professor thinks the Weather Bureau
should have more appropriation and be
given more scope. As he talked of the pos
sibillty that astronomy and the weather
might be kindred subjects, he warmed up
and said that, though science had not yet
reached any solution of the question, there
were great possibilities, and no one could tell
what might be the result of continued re-
search and astronomical inventions yet to be
brought to light.
Leaving the subject Of the weather, the
reporter spoke of the length of the days at
this season of the year and the Professor
disclosed many interesting things in regard
to them unknown to the masses. Last Fri
day was the longest day of the year, or the
time when the sun reached its most north
ern point Friday morning the sun rose at
4:29 A. NJ, ard set at 7:34 P. NJ, making the
day Is hours and 8 minutes long. The
length of the days will not change a minute
until about week from last Friday. In
September it changes about minute day
as the sun goes farther South.