Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-27

with the period of the solar spots, the maxi
mum of the oscillations coinciding with the
| maximum of spots, and the minimum of the
one with the minimum of the other. All the
other elements Of magnetism, the dip of the
needle. and the intensity of the force ex-
hibit the same correspondence. Still more;
the magnetic needle from time to time e1-
hibits abnormal agitations, perturbations
caused BY magnetic storms. These pertur-
bations also correspond with the great agi-
tations observed in the sun.
If we trace the curve Of the number of
solar spots (the mean diurnal extent of the
solar surface covered BY spots for each
Year,, and beneath it the curve expressing
the magnetic variation according to COM
plete series of observations, we obtain the
accompanying diagram, which speaks for
itself, giving precise affirmation Of this
real correspondence. We notice that the
maxima and minima, both of magnetic force
and of the solar spots, are far from invari-
ably reaching the same value.
How to Prophesy Sun Spots.
The correspondence is so striking that an
astronomer, NJ. Wolf, director Of the OBJ
servatory at Zurich, has established formu-
le for calculating the number of spots on
the sun by examining magnetic observations
only, without need of observing the sun.
He wrote me lately that these formula have
never waited for verifcation more than
few months. The curve drawn to express
on a physiological chart the daily, monthly,
yearly state Of the suns health presents the
same defectlons, the same rate and proper
tions as the curve representing the daily,
monthly and yearly observation of the
magnetic needle.
It is a coincidence veritably pregnant
with questionings, that the years in which
the oscillation Of this innocent little blade
of steel is the strongest are also the years
when there are the most spots, the most
eruptions, tho most tempests in the sun;
and that the years when its daily deviations
are the most feeble are those in which we
observe in the orb Of day neither spots,
eruptions nor tempests. Is there, then, a
magnetic bond between the immense solar
globe and our own wandering abode? Is
the sun magnetic? But magnetic currents
disappear at temperature of redhot iron,
and the incandescent flame Of light is of a
temperature incomparably higher. Is
there an electric influx from the sun to the
earth through space of more than SO, ,000,-
600 miles?- All these questions are as yet so
facts and afterward seek for explanations
Observations That Seem Conclusive.
On the LIST of September, 1859, two as
tronomers, Darlington and Hodgson, were
observing the sun independently of each
other, the first on a screen which received
the image, the second directly through the
telescope, when suddenly dazzling flash Of
light broke forth from the midst Of a group
of spots. This light shone for the space Of
five minutes above the spots without alter
ing their form, and as if it had been alto
gether independent of them, and it must
have been the effect of fearful confagra-
tion in the solar atmosphere. Each OBJ
server noted the fact separately, and was
blinded by it for an instant.
Now, notice the surprising coincidence:
At the very moment when the sun broke
into flames in this manner the magnetic in
struments at the Kew observatory near
London manifested strange agitation; the
magnetic needle leaped from side to side
for an hour as if it had gone wild. More
over, part of the world, during that night
and the following one, was wrapped in the
light of an aurora borealis, in Europe as
we'll as in America. Violent magnetic per-
turbations were manifested, and in several
places the telegraphic lines ceased to oper-
ate. How can we avoid associating one
with the other Of these two curious events?
Many examples of this same coincidence
might be mentioned.
CAMILLE FLAMMARroN.