The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-06-07

these Investigations have uncovered
a thousand mysteries which have
escaped solution to one that has
been fully solved. The practical as
tronomer sweeping the heavens
with his telescope by nightly OBJ
servation, is like the hunter who
flushes an entire covey of quail but
bags only one or two of them. SC
far as the corona is concerned 1t Is
generally conceded by astronomers
today that it is permanent yet va
riable atmosphere, such as that
which surrounds our earth, but
composed of various gases reduced
to state OF high temperature and
incandescence beyond our concep-
ton, reaching an intensity OF what
would correspond to $4,000 degrees
or more in our thermometers.
| quote from Newcomb's Popu-
lar Astronomy the following briet
description of what takes place in
this corona during total eclipse
of the sun and refer all readers to
this book for most interesting and
instructive discussion of the physi-
cal constitution and phenomena OF
the sun. He says: If during the
progress of total eclipse the grad
ually diminishing crescent OF the
sun is watched. nothing remarkable
is seen until very near the moment
of its total disappearance. But as
the last ray of sunlight vanishes.
scene of unexampled beauty, gran
deur and impressiveness breaks upon
the view. The globe OF the moon,
black as ink, is seen as il it were
hanging in mid-air, surrounded by a
crown OF soft, silvery light, like
that which the old painters used
to depict around the heads Of saints.
Besides this corona tinges of rose
colored flame of the most fantastic
forms shoot out from around
points around the lunar disk
OF these two appearances the CO.
roma was noticed as far back as the
time of Kepler; indeed, it was not
possible for a total eclipse to hap
pen without the spectators seeing
it. But it is only within century
that the attention Of astronomers
has been directed to the rose-color-
ed flames. They are known by the
several names of FLAMES" "promi-
nences" and "protuberances." Let
Us hope the atmospheric conditions
tomorrow afternoon will be such as
to give us view of these wonder
ful phenomena.
| should say still further that the
eruptive protuberances may be seen
or studied at other times than that
of total eclipse. and stand closely
connected with the sun-spots which
pass through a complete cycle OF
change about once in eleven years,
and when specially active produce
electric and magnetic storms in the
atmosphere of our earth. PROBES
5or Newcomb says: The eruptive
seem to be due to
The projection OF hydrogen and
vapor from the region J
Of the chromosphere ii. G., corona) |
with velocities which sometimes rise
% $50 miles a second. The erup-
ion may continue for hours. or
wen days. the vapor spreading Out
nto great masses, thousands OF
niles in extent, and then falling
,ack on the chromosphere. "lt is
possible to present in language. he
nquires, ANY adequate idea OF the
Gale on which natural operations
re here carried on? ii we call the
hromosphere an ocean OF fire, we
must remember thai it is an ocean
Iotter than the fiercest furnace, and
S deep as the Atlantic is broad. II
We call its movements hurricanes,
;e must remember that our hurri-
anes blow only about hundred
niles an hour. while those OF the
hromosphere blow as far in SIN
lie second. They are such hurri-
anes as coming down upon us from
he north would, in thirty seconds
fter they had crossed the st. Law
ence. be in the Gulf of Mexico,
arriving with them the whole sur
ace OF the continent in a mass, not
imply OF rain, but OF glowing va
or. in which the vapors arising
ON the dissolution of the materials
the cities OF Boston.
,ew York and Chicago would be
liked in an indistinguishable cloud.
When We speak OF eruptions. We
all to mind Nesuvius burying the
grounding cities in lava; but the
Dlar eruptions thrown from 5O.OOO
} 100000 miles high, would engult
lie whole earth. and dissolve every
rganized being on its surface in 4
Ioment."
There are MANY other facts and
henomena connected with solar
hysics which are OF intense inter-
L to thoughtful minds, but ! must
ose with brief notice OF the time
I'd course occupied by the lunar
lawod tomorrow in crossing our
,untry, entering in Alaska. pro-
-essing in a southeasterly direc-
on, and passing out through Flor
a. SO far as Oklahoma is con-