The Russellville Democrat. [volume] (Russellville, Ark.) 1875-1898, 1889-10-10
MYSTERY OF TIE SUN


| Wat Il Sought to Be Discovered ~ the
| Observers OF Ecifpsss.
\ From the observations OF eclipses
made recently 1t is now well known
that the sun as ordinarily visible 70 US.
bounded by the photosphere. Is only q
part of the sun. just outside the at
mosphere is a comparatively thin layer
of gas. mainly hydrogen, called the
chromosphere; around this is the
corona. thousands OF miles thick. and
around the corona, especially along
the equator. there is considerable ex-
tension Of matter about which little Is
known. The general theory which has
been built up from a knowledge OF
these facts. and from the observations
OF such phenomena as sun spots and
prominences, is that the chemical ele-
ments are being continually tossed
about ia the enormous atmosphere of
the sun and never getting out of it.
The outer layers OF the atmosphere are
recognized as much cooler than the
inner. CSpl or comparatively cool
masses OF matter are produced by con-
densation in the upper regions from
the hot ascending vapors OF the lower
atmosphere. These masses of matter,
having gathered weight, come under
the influence OF gravitation over
Twenty-Five times as great rs ours,
and fall with almost incredible
rapidity toward the center. 1t is sup
posed that these terrific rains OF cooled
matter upon the sun produce what is
known as sun spots We know how
small meteorites in our own cold
atmosphere are heated to incandes-
cence by friction. Their kinetic en-
ergy is transformed into heat 1t is
not difficult to imagine, therefore. that
these masses of matter, darling down
from a great height above the photo
sphere, such as sun spots indicate, and
that the masses falling into the inner
and greatly-heated atmosphere should
become broken up in the heat gener-
! ated by their own kinetic energy into
bot vapors, producing such expansion
hat the down-rush is transformed into
en- up-rush. which would carry the
Chemical elements back to the cooler
air. where they would gradually con-
dehsc again and repeat the operation
of failing into the chromosphere. The
effect on such an uprush is supposed to
be indicated by the prominences OBJ
served. The matter is supposed to be
thrown up like the water of fountain.
faf1 - 70, h. sol
up again. but on so great. so terrible
scale that the imagination is unable
to form picture OF it
II this Is the correct theory of the
suns existence. it is impossible to
conceive Of any limit to it. Elements
which we caa only heat into glowing
mass are there reduced to a vapor and
1y expansion thrown one hundred
thousand milea or more away, only to
sool and pelt hack again toward the
center of attraction, there to be thrown
of again. But elective as the theory
Is in explaining solar phenomena, it is
oy no means generally held, and
among those holding it there are great
differences of opinion. The evidence
IS hstle better than circumstantial,
and i, is only by the industrious work
Of astronomers, with improved APP
oliances, that the mystery can APP
oroach solution. The study OF the
sun is to US the most important study
astronomy. 1t affects us directly.
To better understand this center of
light and heat is TO better understand
,ur own surroundings. and it is from
he observations Of those sent to view
he occasional total eclipscs of the sun
hat light must come Providence
II. l. D journal.