San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-06-14
SPOTS ON THE SUN.
They are Visible Now Through a
Smoked Glass.

now on exhibition, which may be
seen with the simple assistance OF
a smoked glass. This is a banner
year for sun spots. For some rea.
son or other, as yet unknown
there is a regular graduation in the
matter of sun spots, with a perio-
deity of about eleven years
The large group of spots
which have recently made their
appearance on the face of that
heavenly body which is just now
so hot were reported by Prof Hold
EN-, of the Lick Observatory, sew
eral days ago. They have attract
ed considerable attention in the
astronomical world, and have re-
ceived good deal of study from
scientists in this city. They have
been number OF curious transfor-
nations in these remarkable
phenomena since they were first
observed, and they have caused a
good deal of speculation as to their
significance and cause.
A CHANGE OF THEORY.
1t used to be considered that the
presence of sun spots was largely
accountable for magnetic disturb
ances. OF recent years this the
Dry 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 CO.
incident effects of the same cause,
whatever that cause may be. This
fact, taken together with the peri
Odicity of their appearances, has
given rise to the theory that the
sun is more than mere collection
of gases as was formerly consid-
cred, but has nucleus of some
sort, although it is not known what
the nature of that nucleus is. This
has opened up 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 value of the work
they have accomplished.
The German astronomers pub
lish year book containing the
results of their labors, and this
book has also within it a list of
statistics bearing upon the appear
ance of sun spots. Observations
have been made and recorded since
about the year 1741, and these
show that for some reason about
every eleventh year sun spots are
most noticeable and frequent.
From that point they dwindle
down by regular steps to almost a
minimum, and then take an up
ward turn again. The highest
number observed during this peri
odic year varies somewhat be-
tween $50 and half dozen or even
less
PROF. BIGELOW'S OBSERVATIONS.
Among Washington astronomers
Prof. Frank H. Bigelow, Of the
weather bureau, has attracted the
most attention from the value of
the observations he has made on
the subject of sun spots. He more
than any one else, holds to the i'm
portance of these phenomena in
their relation to meteOrOlOgy. He
regards the connection as very
close one indeed, and, while he
might almost be considered an eX-
tremist in his views, he has yet
been able to bear them out with
gratifying success. He considers
the presence of sun spots in such
large numbers this year as init
mately bound up with the preva-
lence of magnetic Phenomena and
electrical storms. He is one of
those who regard all these as eff
fectS of common cause.
On the other hand Prof. Asaph
Hall, of the Naval observatory, in
an interview, said that does not
believe there are any well estab-
lished relations between thunder
storms and the appearance of spots
on the sun, although this forms an
interesting subject and one that
will repay close investigation. He
does admit that there is a relaxa-
ton existing between these spots
and the disturbances of the mag
netic needle. These black spots
are openings through the bright
gaseous envelope and from their
appearance is obtained the time OF
the suns rotation on it's axis. The
spots on the equator of the sun
give shorter time for this period
while the others give a longer
time, possibly from some peculiar
motion of this gaseous envelope.
Prof. Bigelow said to reporter
| that he did not care tO eynreSs