Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1897-03-12
SOLAR CYCLONES.
Phenomena OF the Sun in the Light ~
Modern Theory. ....ss

Phenomena of the Sun In the Iaght ~
Modern Theory. ..s.sa
II was the French astronomer, Faye
who proposed theory of solar icy.
Clones, He contended that drift is
caused in the philosophers by the fact
that the portions about the equator no.
tate more rapidly than those about the
poles. Thus whirlpools ensue, or
worthless" as they IRE usually termed.
This theory has fouad acceptance with
some scientists, although it is attended
with difficulties which cannot be ex.
planned away. The same astronomer,
together with the famous solar stu
dent, Secchi, had previously proposed
the theory that the spotswere produced
by the bursting outward of interior
gases, liquid constitution being
Inscribed to the sun. But this has been
given up. The ilmstS,ons Iierschel, the
elder, held that The spots were open.
ings in the philosophers, the penumbra
being secondary stratum covered by
the brightest philosophers. 1t is sin.
gular thai he considered the dark
patches to be portions Of cool, habita-
hle globe! But the spectroscope has
set at rest all such speculations; and, as
previously stated, the splendid star we
call the sun is now generally believed to
he gaseous globe with an enormously
high temperature, surrounded by a
sort of "shell" of clouds produced by
condensation of vapors far out in space;
and that sun spots result from the sink.
ing of metallic vapors, thus cooled, into
depression of the philosophers caused
by eruptions near by, dark only in com,
parison with the intensely brilliant nor
NAL surface.
But IL the surying lines which rose
from the sides Of the mammoth cavity
like arches sprung toward a common
center did not affirm the cyclone theory,
they at least witnessed to the profound
agitation of the solar surface, in strange
contrast with the calm and loneliness of
an ideal terrestrial day. And as the
day progressed transformations were
noticed in the adjacent spots as well.
1t will be remembered that often prom
inences, or upshoots from the "chro-
mosphere" 1.-THE suns gaseous "atmos-
phere," several miles in depth reach
the height OF $4,000 or 10000 miles, and
sometimes they expend their incon-
ceivable fury more than 100000 miles
above the philosophers, rising at q vo-
locity which must equal $50 miles per
second to be seen TO move! These are
but hints of the snmptuous features
which invite us to the study of the
great luminary Of the day. Few can
realize the colossal size of the sun, and
the enormous area OF its surface, even
when it is stated to he more than A300,-
600 times as large ms the earth. We are
to remember that its diameter is about
$4,000 miles and that the immense spot
now visible is but speck upon its
mighty bosom.
If no other instrument is accessible
the simple watching of this group
from day to day with piece Of we'll
smoked glass will show the measure OF
.he suns rotation. This is really about
rs days; but as in the meantime the
earth is making substantial progress in
its orbit what may be called in sense
its "synodic" rotation is about q days
and the time thus required for the ap
parent transit of spot across the dish
is about 10 days. 1t will also be inter
esting to prove the fact that the spots
are cavities, by the closing up of the
eastern penumbrae as the spots ap
proach the western edge. They will
probably be visible for a week, and IL
Il fortnight more may indeed reappeai
upon the eastern limb.-Philadelphi'
| yaIno,