The sun., 1891-06-20
Shall We Finally be Burned Up9

the PAST We6k, no uOupG aWOk0 III many
minds questions as to the nature and extent
of tho influence exerted upon tho earth by
variations In the condition OF tho sun.
There appears to DO no doubt that the radis-
two energy OF the sun is increased whom spots
break out upon It's surface. and It seems
reasonable to conclude that the earth must
experience greater degree Of heat at such
times. Yet, singularly enough, the best OBJ
servations bearing upon this question indi-
cate Just the contrary condition OF things.
It has been found In India that the mean
temperature Is lower instead Of higher dur
ing the maximum periods Of sun spots.
Such result must be brought about by ter
restrial conditions which arc able in some
way 10 reverse the effect OF increased radia-
tion from the sun. But very great In
crease In the solar heat could hardly be
neutralized in that way. H. then, the sun
st certain times suddenly pours forth An
extraordinary gush Of heat. the Garth must
take the consequences.
This whole subject becomes particularly
significant In view OF modern discoveries
concerning tile nature and constitution OF
such bodies AZ the sun. II not In name at
leastin practice there exists science OF COM
parativo solar physics. All tho Guns OF space
arc made to contribute to our knowledge.
Our own sun falls into special class, and Is
found to be sharply differentiated III many
particulars from the stars that do not bc-
long In the Same category with itself. Even
the ancients knew, or at least surmised, that
the stars are suns, but 1t remained for the
astronomers Of our day to demonstrate
that there is great variety Of suns Still.
through all tho variations there runs q
family likeness, and an evident identity Of
ultimate constitution and destiny. So the
different classes OF suns merge into one an
other by almost insensible gradations.
There Is also evidence that suns pass from
one class into another. either as the result
of progressive development or In conse-
quence Of the sudden outbreak OF trans
forming forces. This last fact is Of su-
preme interest to the inhabitants OF
planet which, like the earth, depends
for It's prosperity. and even for Its very
existence. upon q solar orb that Is
liable to stupendous changes. The periodi-
cal outbreak OF sun spots in q cycle Of about
eleven years alone suflces to place the sun
in the large and continually increasing list
of the so-called variable stars; and the wide
differences In the intensity OF these out
breaks at different times indicates that
We cannot count upon the changes In the
SUMS radiative energy as we do upon such
comparatively regular variations as those Of
the seasons, which are capable Of geometrl-
cal calculation. So long as the amount Of
tho change is small, as 1t has been during
the period covered by human history. no
serious results are to be apprehended; but
there is no absolute certainty that the
change may not suddenly become destruc-
lively great. Such an event Is improbable.
but not impossible. Not only the sudden
apparitions Of new stars, but the enormous
changes OF brilllancy that many well-known
variable stars undergo, furnish evidence Of
tho potential capacity of q sun to burst forth.
upon suitable provocation, with an over
whelming energy of radiation. In the face OF
which no planetary life could survive.
The sun is surrounded with what from our
point Of view might be termed q protective
envelope, or atmosphere. which absorbs, as
the spectroscope shows, large part of
the radiations proceeding from the tre-
mendous inner core OF the solar globe.
Other stars possess similar absorp-
tive envelope. and In consequence are
ranked In the same class with the sun.
In aome stars this envelope is far
moro effective in producing absorption than
is the case with the sun, and such stars
seem to be smouldering and sinking toward
extinction, though In some cases they occa-
sionally fare up with furious outbursts, as
though struggling against impending fate.
But by far the greater number OF the stars
appear to be less efTectually blauketed with
absorbing vapors than the sun is. Sirius,
for instance. the brightest star visible to us,
and Vega, one OF the most brilliant orna-
ments of the midsummer evening, shine
with a splendor and intensity OF radiation
far exceeding the suns, Independently OF
their greater size. Sirius. for instance.
pOurs out seventy or eighty times ns much
light as the sun. although recent estimates
Of its mass show that 1t Is perhaps
not more than four times as heavy.
Tho intensity of Slriuss radiation must
then be many times greater than that OF the
sun, in consequence Of the absence of an abb
sorptive atmosphere capable Of stopping
. large share of its rays. Life-beariug
4 planets could not possibly circulate around
Slrius at distances proportionate to tho
earth's distance from the sun; and II the cur
tain that screene of from us the full fury Of
the solar light and heat were Withdrawn,
tIl6 Ilkc Vi lJlIb ouN-ouIbtUcA klOUo IuIHHb bll
vanish amid the vapors OF Its steaming scas.
Tho speotroscope shows that tho glowing
atmospheres OF some Of the stars OCCASION
ally fisrhe up to an intensity exceeding that
of tho aory globes within them. That kind
Of an accident happening to the sun would
be very awkward for US poor mortals, but the
consoling fact remains that the stars which
exhibit this uncomfortable popularity evil
IDENTIFY belong In q different class from that
in which our great star ut present stands.
Yet unceasing change, often in accordance
with laws which we do not understand, is
tho order OF the universe; and so having for
our god OF day and OF life an orb that VIC
know Is subject to varying moods. we must
not be too certain that the ultimate fate OF
mankind, as some people have concluded. is
TO be frozen to death on an ice-onveloped
and sun abandoned globe.
Senator Carlisle's Opinion.