Greenwood daily commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1919-1926, 1920-03-31
By Prof. Monroe B. Sny-
der Of Philadelphia
Observatory.
EARTH PASSING
THROUGH OUTER
Confines of Corona or
Exterior Envelope Of
The Sun.
Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA, March 31-The
earth was passing through the outer
confines of the corona or exterior en-
velope of the sun on the night OF
March % when the inhabitants >Of the
northern portion of the United States
witnessed the great aurora in the
skies, says Professor Monroe B. Sny-
der. Director of the Philadelphia OBJ
servatory.
The astronomer declared in state
ment to The Associated Press that
the universal force of radioaction"
on the sun "hurled the final atoms
of an explosion, namely, electrified
hydrogen and probably helium, strai-
ght to earth"
Professor Snyder's observations
follow:
"The recent aurora is fine indica-
tion of the explosive atomic disinte-
grafton which takes place at the sur
face of the sun and is responsible for
its prominences, spots, and corona.
Our discovery of the magnitude and
precise atomic order of the explosion
of the chemical elements in the sun,
and in the stars generally leads TO
conceptions of the aurora and the ac-
companying magnetic and electric
storms, which are beyond any doubt
as to their validity.
"During the hours of Monday night
last, the earth was, in a very true
sense, and to the delight OF us all,
passing through the outer confines OF
the solar corona. The same nn'ver-
sal force Of radioaction which dls 8
teprates the atoms in stupendous 10
Called Krakatoas, or Mont Pelees, on
the sun, and produces the hydrogen OF
the coronal streamers, then also hurl-
ed the final atoms cf that explosion,
namely. electrified hydrogen, and
nrobably hellium, straight to the
earth.
"Only within about month OF tne
eouinox. vernal, or atumnal, IS the
earth in an orbital position to be thus
successfully bombarded The moving
electric hydrogen is, of course, an
electric current, and is therefore car
ried toward the poles Of the earth and
round them by the earth's magnetlc
forces. The fascinating colors OF the
aurora are due to the changing cleo
trio excitation of the hydrogen anu
other gases. The theory OF Vegard'
the Swedish physicist, which has ex-
D,ained the wonderful curtalned au-
roras as due to hydrogen particles
Of positive electric charge, IS now
shown to be unquestionably true, IN
that It is but logical result OF the
explosive eruption of the electric n.y.
dropen from the sun.
seTbe well-known delay, or lag IN
time between the solar eruption ano
the appearance of the magnetle
storm. and accompanying aurora, OF
the earth. of about 45 hours, is due te
tho time taken for the hydrogen
atoms to travel from the sun 10 ths
aorth The rate of travel Is aoou'
s75 miles per second, or somewhat II
excess of the rate of the upwart
movement of the gases in some OF tns
great solar prominences.
"The numerous and complex details
of the auroral phenomena are 1oun'
thus to receive, for the first time
reasonable explanation. Addltiona
confirmation of tEis explanation u
given by the fact that our discoverle'
also prove that all the elemensa
atoms. so wonderfully explosive II
.t.rs are structural products OF ny
drogen."