Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-11-18

n,istakable answer. The great spot VI
November. 1899. which was conns
with so remarkable an aurora an"
violent a magnetic storm. was as sihss-
lar IN its spectrum as In It's ear.ny
fects. The sun was only seen tnIous"
much fog. and the spectrum was eheie
fore. very faint, but shooting up iivni
almost every part Of It's area, except ,ilo
very darkest. were great masses VI
tensely brilliant hydrogen, evidehuy un-
der great pressure. The SODIUM inea
were extremely broadened. and on NO
vember 10Th a broad, bright hame Oh
hydrogen was seen shooting up at an
immense speed from one edge OF the
nucleus similar effect-an outpuTsl
of intensely luminous hydrogen-has OF
ten been observed in spots when nave
been accompanied by great magnetic
storms, and IL may even be tnal IL -
this violent eruption OF intensely heateu
gas which has the directest connection
with the magnetic and auroral dlsturp-
ances here upon earth.
This sunspot work was not carried On
FOR very long, as only one assistant coulu
be spared for the entire solar Worh Vi
whatever character. Yet In that tiine an
interesting discovery was maze py the
writer-namely, that In the green part
of the spectrum of certain spots num-
her OF broad diffused lines or narrow
bands made their appearance from dme
70 time, and especially when sunspots
were increasing in number, or were al
their greatest development.
The prominence work had also 10 De
dropped, partly FOR the same reason put
chiefly because thes atmospheric cohol-
lions at Greenwich are not suitable tor
these delicate astrophysical researches.
founded
the golden days" of Charles H., Green
witch was little country town far enough
removed from the great capital, ana DO
interference from its smoke ana uusl
had to be feared, or was dreamed OF.
Now the great wen" as Corbett callc1
it. has spread far around and beyond ~
and the DAYS when the sky is sufhcientN
pure round the sun for successful spec
trum work on the spots or prominences
are few indeed.
Whether in the future II will be thought
advisable for the Royal Observatory to
enter into serious competition In inquiries
OF this description with the great as
trophysicaI" observatories OF the Conu-
nent and OF your United States-Pots-
dam. Meuden, the Lick, and the ferkes-
I cannot say. That would involve n very
considerable departure from Its original
programme and probably also depart
ure from its original site. for the coHut-
lions at Greenwich tend TO become stead
ily less favorable for such work, ana IL
would most probably be found that full
efficiency could only be secured by setting
up a branch or branches far from the
monster town.
1t IS interesting TO note that marVel-
lous collection OF photographs of the moon
is being made at the Paris observatory
When completed this will provide astro-
nomers with permanent and trustworthy
record of the principal features observa-
bic on the surface Of our satellite. The
latest addition to this Photographic lunar
album is published in the annual report
iust finished by the director of the OBJ
servatory, M. Loewy, and is here repro
duced. It is not too much to say That
this is the finest photograph Of the cres-
cent moon that has yet been taken. The
moon was only four days six hours cid,
and therefore not far from the sun at
sunset. At such a time considerable diff
Guilty is experienced in photographing the
moon. for an exposure can only be COM
menced at the end Of twilight, ard our
satellite is then at but a small elevation
above the horizon.
In spite of this difficulty, however. n
careful examination OF the accompanying