Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-05
SPOTS ON THE sun.
You Can See Them Now Through o
Smoked Glass.
PERIODIC APPEARANCE,
They Come I'm Greatest Number. Abous
Every Eleven Years-Ciosely Connected
With Magnetic Distursances-There Has
Comets BE a Change Of Theory Regarding
Them
Have you seen the sun spots?

nave you seen the sun spots?
you have not seen the sun spots you are
away oehind the times. for there is q large coli
iecuon OF choice articles of that sort now on
exhibition, which may be seen with the simple
assistance OF smoked glass. This il a ban
ner year Tor sun spots For some reason or
o'nef, as yet unknown, there's q regular erada-
ton m the matter of sun spots. with a per-
'odicity OF about eleven years The large eroup
OF spots which have recently made their an,aer-
ance on the face of that heavenly body which
is Just now SO hot were reported
by Prof. Holden OF the Lick observatory
several days ago They have attracted CON-
siderable attention in the astronomical world
and have received q good deal of studv
from scientists in this city. There havs
been q number of curious transformation in
these remarkable phenomena since they we're
first observed and they have caused q good de.l
ofspeculation as to their significance and causa
CHANGE OF THEORY.
1t used to be considered that the pres
ence of sun spots was largely accountable
for magnetic disturbances OF recent yearv
this theory has been. for the most part.
abandoned. 1t is recognized, just the same.
that they are very closely connected
but one is now no longer regarded as the effect
Of the other. They are both considered TO be
coincident effects OF the same cause. whatever
that cause may be. This fact, taken
together with the periodicity Of their
Appearances, has given rise 20 the
theory that the sun IL more than . mere COL
lection OF gases was formerly considered,
but has nucleus Of some sort, although il is NOS
known what the nature Of that nucleus
Is. This has opened mp a wide and fertile
field for careful study and investi-
cation. Washington observers are by no
means behind the rest Of the world in the valus
OF the work they have accomplished.
The German astronomers publish year book
containing the results OF their lsbors, and this
book has also within IL q list OF statistics
spots Observations have been made
and recorded since about the year
lI4l, and these show that for some reason
about every eleventh year sun spots are most
noticeable and frequent. From that point
they Gwindle down by regular steps 70 . mimi
mum and then take an upward turn again
The highest number observed during this
periodic year varies somewhat between Q hum
dred and nfty and two hundred, while ct the
lowest point II goes down 10 Q half dozen -
even less.
PROF. BreELow's OBSERVATIONS
Among Washington astronomers Prof Frank
u. Digelow Of the weather bureau has attracted
the most attention from the value of the
observations he has made on the subject Of
else. holds to the importance of thsss
phenoraena in their relation to meteorology.
he reesrds the connection q very close one
indeed, and. while he might almost be consid-
cred an EXTREMIST in his views, he has vet been
able TO bear them out with gratifying
success lie considers the prcsence
of sun Spots In such large numbers this ysar
rs intimately bound up with the prevaisucs
of magnetic phenomonA and electrical storma
He IL one OF those who regard all these - q.
fects OF n common cause.
On the other hand Prof. Asaph Hall Of IL
Naval Observatory. in an interview. said 'thst
he does not believe there are any vol es1ob-
lished relations between thunder stcru9 end
the appearance OF spots on the sun. alfh0uSh
this forms N interesting subject md ous skss
vii repay close Investigation He does admit
that there il q rolaxntion existing between these
spots and the cisturbarces Of the magnetic
needle. These b,ack spots are openings through
the bright gaseous envelope and from
their appearance 10 obtained the
time OF the suns rotation on Its axia Ths
sposs on the equator Of the sun give . shorter
time for this period while the Others give .
Longer time. possibly from some peculiar mo.
ton Of this gaseous envelope.
Prof. Bigeiow said to q SrARreporter that b
did not care to express himself in print, except
generally, just At this time. This was not be-
the subject and the interest il arouses among
the people generally. but for the reason
that he is engaged upon publication which
is TO appear In a couple OF months, and
which viii embody|the results Of his obser-
vstions together with all the rest Of the IN
formation that has yet been arrived at in
connection with these curious phenomena.
The work is being done under the supervision
and direction OF the Agricultural Departments
and inasmrch as IL is . government publica-
tional he did not feel at liberty TO give It's oon-
tents, even in q small way 70 the public ct this
time. in ysew OF the ban that has been placed
upon the employees Of tine department. BY ths
secretary.