The Savannah morning news., 1903-10-15
SPOTS ON THE SUN
SEEN THROUGH THE LARGE TELE-
SCOPE AT CHATHAM ACADEMY.
is 10000 MILES LONG.
OBSERVATIONS BY SUPERINTEND-
ENT OF SCHOOLS AsHMORE.

Surface of the sun as 1t Turns ON
Its Axis-Single Spot Appears at
Eastern Limb-Cause of Spots Not
Definitely Determined by Scien-
tists-EGect the Magnetic and
electrical Conditions of the Earth.
No Relation Discovered Between
the Spots and Storms.
Considerable interest is being mani
Tested in the spots which have recent
ly appeared on the surface of the sun
and many observations are being made
of them by those who have the proper
facilities. In many places these spots
are believed to be connected in some
way with the storms that are form
ing, but scientists as yet have failed
to establish any connections between
them.
An observation of the spots was made
yesterday by Mr. Otis Ashmore and
by the use of the large telescope at
u seen. BY holding a white surface
near the small end of the telescope
the sun was projected against it as a
white circle and the dark spots were
plainly apparent. By measuring the
diameter of the circle and that of the
spot can be easily computed. The
present cluster is near the western
limb and is about 10000 miles long
and $4,000 miles wide.
An observation will be made of the
spots daily and a comparison made
with that of the day previous. In this
way the changes that occur can be
accurately noted. The spots will grad
ually move off as the sun turns upon
it's. axis and then, unless disintegra-
ton takes place, will later appear on
the eastern limb again. A single spot
of considerable size has made it's ap-
pearance on the eastern limb and the
movement of this spot across the disk
of the sun will be watched with con-
siderable interest, especially by those
interested in astronomy.
What the Sun-SpOts Are.
In speaking of the sun-spots and
their characteristics Mr.. Ashmore said
The appearance of a large group of
Sun-spots upon the solar disk at this
time is not unexpected. For some I'M
known reason these spots recur with
maximum frequency about every elev-
en- and one-tenth years. The last
maximum occurred in 1898, and we are
now in the midst of another maximum
period. For two or three years these
spots may be expected to be always
present in greater or less activity up
on the suns surface.
THE sun is huge molten globe of
matter $4,000 miles in diameter, and
it rotates upon its axis with reference
to the earth in about twenty-seVen and
a half days. The spots are vast de-
pressions upon the solar surface which
are much cooler than the surrounding
region. Though apparently black by
reason of the contrast against the
hotter surrounding region, they are
still hotter and more luminous than
the brightest electric light.
THE spots first come into view up
on the eastern limb of the sun, pass
across the disk in about fourteen days,
and disappear on the western limb.
In about fourteen days after disappear
ance they will reappear on the eastern
limb, unless they become obliterated
entirely from the suns disk. The life
of a sun-spot varies from few hours
to several months. but usually they
OO HOl SuINlNC lllOIC llldll lMO VI IllIGS
months.
The Present Group.
1.-THE present group of spots, which
is near the western limb is eblong
in shape, and it involves a region about
10000 miles long and 10000 miles wide.
Yesterday the group consisted of four
large spots surrounded by many small
err ones, resembling very much an
eruption upon the skin. These spots
are continually changing their form
just as floating clouds in a summer sky
change their shapes, and in a few days
they will present altogether differ
ent appearance.
"a typical sun-spot consist of an
umbra, which is the black center in
the saucer shaped cavity, a penumbra
which is the lighter shaded portion
around the umbra, and the faculae, or
bright ridges around the spot and some
times extending quite across it.
"Sun-spots do not appear on every
part of the suns disk, but they are
nearly always confined to zones on
both sides of the solar equator, ex-
tending from latitude 5 degrees to 80
degrees. They are most numerous in
solar latitude Is degrees, both north
and south, and a few more are seen
in the northern than in the southern
hemisphere.
OhuSe VI SAh~oPOtS asa
1.-THE cause of the spots remains in
much doubt. There is no question that
they are closely associated with erup-
tions from beneath; but which is cause
and which is effect or whether both
are due to some external influence, re-
mains undetermined 1t is possible
that they are due in part at least to
some such forces as those which pro-
duce cyclones upon the earth.
"It is abundantly demonstrated by
observation that there is some mys-
FERROUS connection between the erup-
tive forces accompanying sun-spots
and the electrical and magnetic condi-
lions of the earth. A great sun-spot
frequency is nearly always accompan-
led by great disturbances of the mag
netic needle and electrical instruments,
and unusual displays of the Aurora
Borealis. AS yet, however, no appre-
ciable effect has been observed that
could count these spots with weather
changes.
1.-THE present group of spots now
seems to be disintegrating, and in all
probability it will entirely disappear in
a few weeks. A single spot of con-
siderable size is making its appear
ance on the eastern limb, and although
it is much larger than the earth, it