Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-01-12
WITH THE NAKED EYE.
The Largest of the sun spots Plainly
Visible
(st. Louis Globe-Democrat. 9th.)

(St. Louis Globe Democrat. 9TH
Considerable interest was created locally
yesterday by the sun spots reported seve-
raj days ago. The largest one could be
seen with the naked eye during the early
hours OF the forenoon The atmosphere
was heavy with fog and smoke, and the
sun appeared as a great, blood-red disk,
the vapors In the atmosphere performing
the function OF a smoked glass. IL Gre
ated interest, both among those who
knew something about sun spots and
those who never heard Of such a thing.
The spot appeared to be but speck when
seen with the aid OF a smoked glass or
the fog In the early morning. but in reali-
ty IL was something like 200 miles long
and $50 miles wide. Observations show
ed that there were smaller spots around
the larger one, and that the disturbed
area was much larger than that included
In the one spot.
Professor II. S. Pritchett. Of Washing
ton University. was busy yesterday, as he
has been for several days. with observa-
tiOns Of the spots, and made careful mca-
surements and drawings of them.
-Four or five days ago a large sun spot
was noticed, just becoming visible. at the
eastern edge Of the sun" said Professor
Prtchett yesterday. at is now, January
Sth, near the centre of the disk and has
been for two days plainly visible to the
unassisted eye An examination OF the
region with a telescope shows that the
large spot Is the centre of n disturbed
region which contains a number OF small
er spots, in all about fifteen. One or
these, Immediately preceding and south
of the large spot, is itself quite large. The
large spot is surrounded by penumbra
extending q considerable distance on each
side"
A sketch made by Mr. Tyrrell. student
OF Washington University, gives very
good idea Of the form Of the principal
spot. Professor Pritchett's measurements
gave the figures already named for the
largest spot The length of the second
in size is 900 miles. and the width IS
400 miles. 49,,
"The entire area disturbed is some 6S.000
miles long by 10000 wide" said the Pro-
lessor. THE cause of sun spots is still
but little known. although we know many
facts concerning them They are un-
doubtedly depressions In the suns Pho
tosphere and seem In a general way
analogous to cyclonic storms on the earth:
They come and go in cycles or ABOUT
eleven years We are now I'm the midst
Of a sun spot minimum, and for some
months past the surface of the sun has
been almost entirely free OF spots. II IS
unusual to see so large spot appear so
suddenly at a time of minimum sun-spot
frequency. These outbursts OF spots on
the sun are always accompanied by mag
netic storms on the earths surface, snow
ing a connection between magnetic condl-
tions here and outbursts OF solar actlVity.
have not seen an account OF OBSERVE 9,l
lions of magnetic disturbances III the past
few days"
view through the telescope in the uni
yersitv observatory revealed the fact that
the arrangement of the sun spots was
very similar to that Of the Greater An
titles. of which the Island OF Cuba forms
n part. Professor Pritchett laughingly
suggested that the appearance or the
spots in such an Arrangement might have
some political significance. or tnat me
disturhance on the suns surface might
bear an analogy to the disturbance by
war In the island OF the Antilles on the
earth's surface.
Professor Pritchett expressed the opn-
ion that the spots would disappear within
three or four days. as they already show
ed signs Of breaking M. THE spots are
supposed TO be gas which has been thrown
up by cyclonic action, and, becoming cool,
settled back into the intensely heated
vapors rounding the sun. causing caVi-
ty," he said 1.-THE blackness Of these
spots is only comparative"