The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-09
SUNS SPOTS
GREAT HOLE IN ITS SURFACE OO,OOo
 MILES LONG.
One of the Largest Spots Observed ln Recent Years Measured by Means of Observations Through
 High School Telescope.
Otis Ashmore in Savannah News.

Otis Ashmore in Savannah News.
 One of the largest sun spots observ- ed in recent years may now be seen upon the solar surface by any one who may care to look at that luminary through a smoked glass. The phenom- enon has evidently been in existence for several days, though it was observ- ed and measured in Savannah for the first time yesterday
 The disturbed portion of the suns surface embraces an area of an irreg- ular oblong shape, about 90,0O0 miles long and 54,000 miles wide, with a central nucleus of about 1S,0O0 miles in diameter. When we remember that the earth is only 5000 miles in diameter. the magnitude of the sun spot and its dark nucleus is better realized. The spot will be visible for several days yet, and 1t will be closely observed throughout the scientific world. While astronomers have learned much about these sun spots there is much about them that is still un- | known. It Is known that they are vast cavities in the suns molten sur face, and that they are accompanied by the display of gigantic electrical and magnetic forces whose effects are often plainly felt upon the earth in what are known as magnetic storms, which sometimes interfere seriously with telegraphic operations for hours. The magnetic needle vibrates in unl- son with the play of these forces, and the Aurora borealis Is much intensified by their presence
 On Eastern Edge.
 The sun is q vast molten sphere Ss6.- 300 miles in diameter, and 1t rotates upon its axis with reference to the earth in about twenty-eight days. The spots first appear on the eastern edge or the sun, they are slowly carried across its disk towards the west bv the rotation of the sun itself, and in Iourteen days they disappear behind the sun on the western limb In four teen days more the spots may reapnear on the eastern limb and repeat it's Journey across the suns surface. The duration of a sun spot ia very variable. Small ones may appear and disappear in few hours, while larger ones may last several weeks. One has been followed for eighteen months but this Is unusual.
 IL IS a curious fact that these spots are rarely seen very near the suns equator and never more than fortv- hNe degrees from 1t, They are usually more frequent In the two zones be- tween five and thirty degrees on each side of the suus equator, Another cu- rlous circumstance connected with them Is, that while they undoubtedly are Impressions in the suns substance they have q motion independent of tbe rotary motion. so that they float. as if were upon the solar surface much as the eddies In water move upon the sur race or flowing stream
 PeriOdiCity of the Sopts,
 A long observation of these sun spots reveals period of maximum ire quency of about eleven and one-tentb years, that is to say. the spots occur m greater numbers about every eleven years and this Is followed by a period during which but few spots are seen We are now in the midst of a period Of maximum frequency. and for two or three years we may expect more of these spots than usual. The cause of this periodicity Is unknown.
 While the sun spots appear dark they are indeed as bright as calcium light, but they only appear dark bv comparison with the more luminous background of the suns dazzling sur- face. It has been shown. too that they are cooler than the adjacent DOT lions of the suns disc. One might