The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-10
Old Sol Invisible for n Time Yestcr-
day to the People OF Alaska, Nor
way, Japan and siberia.
OBSERVATIONS BY SCIENTISTS
TWO EXPEDITIONS SENT FROM
AMERICA AID TWO FROM EUROPE,
In the Hope OF Gaining Valuable In
formation to sun Spots and
Their Effect ON the Earth.
snecIal to the Indiananolis journal.

Special TO the indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON. Aug. 9.-To-day was q
most important day in the astronomical
world. For brief period in the morning
the sun was totally obscured by the moon.
but the eclipse was one of such importance
that many astronomers journeysd thousands
of miles TO observe IL. Unfortunately, the
eclipse was visible only from very few
cessible places on this earth. Thus IL was
not visible in North America. except in
Alaska. and only Norway. Japan and ST.
IBERIA offered satisfactory views OF the phs-
nomenon.
To-day's eclipse was pregnant with the
possibility of valuable Information concern
ing the suns surface, and also the rela-
tionship of the sun to light upon this plan
ct. 1t was the hope OF the astronomers TO
learn something definite from this eclipse
about the mysterious rose-colored flames
OF the sun. which form a conspicuous part
of the corona. and whose relationship 10
the suns spots and to terrestrial disturb
ences have caused so much discussion. IL
was believed to be possible that when the
glowing body OF the sun Is shut out from
view. and its fiery envelope appeared as
the corona around the black edge OF the
moon, the scientific world would then for
the first time discover the explanation OF
many recent disturbances on this earth.
The corona of the sun is envelope OF
rose-colored flames, violet protuberances
and many colored prominences extending
hundreds OF thousands Of miles into the uni
verse. At the time of total eclipse. such as
that of to-day evidences OF violent agita-
tion of appalling magnitude visible in
this corona. When no eclipse occurs.
oh he op1v ho feI
sun spots. No adequate explanation has
yet been given by astronomers of the ORR
gin and nature of these sun spots. but it
has been found that they visible in the
corona at times of eclipse. and that tho
key TO their solution Is In the corona itself.
The rose-colored flames OF the corona
can only be seen when the sun Is totally
obscured. AT such time the whole OF the
surface Of the great central orb is shut out
from view by the intervening body of the
moon, and the corona shows forth In all
it's splendor around the black disk OF the
moon whose Illuminated side Il turned to-
ward the earth. The corona changes SO
rapidly and the disturbances on the sur
face OF the sun are so violent that instan-
taneous photography of the most delicate
kind is necessary to record the phenomena.
What lends interest TO to-days eclipse TO
even the lay mind lis the belief that certain
protuberances occur in a corona of ths
sun. which are directly connected with vio-
lent agitations of the terrestrial magnet
The great sun SPOT of June. ISS5. was
shown by the astronomer Hewlett, had an
area of about 2.5DoOoo0Oo square. miles.
From the whole OF this vast area the heat
and light of the sun were shut out from
reaching toward the earth. Thus was the
climate altered for the time being on this
planet. and growing crops iDjuriously af-
fected by this great sun spot which inter-
fered with normal conditions Of moisture
and evaporation and deprived plants OF
needed nourishment. Much more direct.
however. was the magnetic influence upon
the earth. The needle. during the whole
time this sun spot was visible. showed ex-
treme agitation. Storms. cyclones and vol
canic and tidal disturbances were common.
and the year was one of disasters every
where. During the whole time this sun
spot was visible every change IL under-
went was accompanied by intense mag
netic storms on the earth.
A long line OF similar disasters, dis
turbances. eruDtions tornadoes and tidal
waves upon this earth accompanied each
of the notable sun spots in recent as
Economical history. The great spot Of
of gigantic cyclone. and as mapped by
the astronomer Secchi. ii covered an area
of hundreds of millions OF square miles.
The year OF its appearance was one OF vio-
lent agitation of the terrestrial atnnos>
phere. Volcanoes. which had long been sis
lent broke into violent eruDtions: tidal
waves. almos: disastrous as that which
devastated Japan few months since.
swept the oceans OF the earth: islands ap-
peared and disappeared. and storms, cy.
clones and tornadoes everywhere.
The year was one OF panic and pestience
on earth.
Worlds are made and unmade in fun
view of the astronomer. thousands OF me-
teors shooting stars and whole consteIIa-
tions of planets are at times thrown up
from the great central fires. either TO dis
appear in space or fall back again into the
sun. and the lambent. rose-colored flames
change into a thousand forms OF vast mag
nitude and extent.
1t is expected. therefore. that so-day's
eclipse may furnish information on which
TO base some explanation OF the awful Sc
ries of catastrophes that have recently vis-
tied the earth. Among them the tornado
that swept across ST. Louis. the tidal
waves that drowned thousands upon thou
sands in Japan. the violent atmospheric
disturbances noted recently in the various
parts of South America, and the intense
heat OF this summer.
Amherst College sent out an expedition
under the leadership OF Professor Todd.
which observed the eclipse az Akeshi on
the southeastern coast OF Yoso. Japan
Another expedition was sent ost by Har-
ward College. while the British and French
governments also dispatched bodies OF scl-
entinc men to accessible points TO observe
the eclipse.
ST. JOHN IN TROUBLE.