Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-21
MATHEMATICS AND ASTRONOMY.
Session OF This Section This Afternoon-T
nOrrow's Program.

Session OF This Section This Afternoon-To-
nOrrOw's Program.
This afternoon the mathematics and astron-
omy section assembled after its joint session
with the physics section and listened 10
a paper on THE Zodiacal Light as
Related TO Terrestrial Temperature" BY
.. I. Sherman; on 1.-THE Long-period
Terms in the Motion Of Hyperian." by
Prof. Ormond Stone. and the exhibition and
description of a new scientific instrument by
Prof. Frank II. Bigelow OF this city. The in
strumens Is called the aurora-inclinometer.
PROF. BIaELow's INVESTIGATION.
Prot. Bigelow has been working for some
years on the problem of the physical interac-
tions between the earth and the sun. aside
from those due to gravitation. Several i'm
portant discoveries have already been made
and new field Of investigation opened
up to science. 1t has been found that
the same law which underlies the working OF
electricity and magnetism is operating on the
sun and gives the beautiful curves of the corona
which are seen at the times Of total eclipses,
This corona is like the aurora and il confined
TO q narrow belt in each hemisphere of the sun.
Prof.. Bigelow has recently discovered the
causes OF terrestrial magnetism and the varis-
ton OF the magnetic needle all over the earth
in periodic motions. It seems that the sun
light is also magnetic field. and that the mag
netized earth rotatos in it just like the armature
ola dynamo. By sort of magnetic refraction the
rays OF force enter the dark side OF the earth in
peculiar curves, pass through it in straight
lines and emerge in similar curves ON the SUNNY
side of the earth, turning all the needles in Q
corresponding way. This naturalization of
sunlight with magnetism is q step Of the high
eat Importance to science.
Now, the aurora marks the PATHWAYS by
which these forces enter and leave the earth, er
the notifications that are produced by them.
or the ordinary magnetic field surrounding the
earth, due to Its permanent magnetism, and
1t therefore becomes essential to study
carefully the data that they can give
Much study has been given to the
Prof. Bigelow has given the theory. Those
three subjects, the corona, the aurora and ter
restrial magnetism, form one grand scheme
and depend upon one law, the inverse of New
toms law of gravitation.
To test the aurora a new instrument has been
planned by Prof Bigelow. 1t was constructed
by the United States coast and geodetic survey,
and they have made it a model of beauty and
efficiency. 1t will be sent TO Alaska this au-
tumn, where the aurora Is seen in the best con-
ditions. and In time we may expect to add ma
terialiy to our knowledge Of this subject.
ToMoRRows PROGRAM.
This sections program for tomorrow is 40
follows: "Fluctuating Stars" by Henry N.
Parkhurst Of New York; "Tabulation Of
Light Curves" Henry NJ. Parkhurst; 'On
Certain Space and Surface Integrals"
Thomas S. Fiske, Columbia College, New York;
Tho Fundamental Law of Elec tro-mag ne tism, 80
j. London, Toronto. Canada; Method of Con-
trolling Driving Clock" L. F. Leayenworth.
Haverford College, Pennsylvania.