POPULAR ASTRONOMY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 77, 1 April 1913, Page 7

POPULAR ASTRONOMY.

SOLAR PHYSICS. VISIT TO THE OBSERVATORY IN SOUTHERN INDIA. (Specially written for the "Star.") (By MISS MARY PROCTOR.) VI. For the purpose of ascertaining something regarding the work at the Solar Physics Observatory at Kodaikanal, m Southern India, I made a special journey to that region during what may be termed a vacation, though as a matter of fact I was hard at work most of the time, and certainly all the time while at the observatory, where there was much to learn. The mere undertaking of journeying from Sydney to Kodaikanal and back again was in itself an arduous task, and full of the variety justly entitled "the spice of life." While there was nothing extraordinary or exciting in the part of the trip as far as Colombo, from that port onward the journey was full of novelty and incident. From Colombo to Tuticorin, in. Southern India, passage is taken in a comfortable steamer, which leaves at 7 o'clock in the evening, and arrives at Tuticorin the next morning. After a brief interview with the Customhouse officers, we take our places in the train which leaves an hour later for Kodaikanal. JOURNEY ACROSS THE PLAINS. On arrival there at half-past three in the afternoon, 1 found that an ordeal awaited mc which was quite a surprise in its \va3 T . From the railroad station to the foot of the mountain on which the observatory stands, is a distance of twenty-eight miles. To cover the distance, one must go either in a wagon drawn by bullocks, called a bandy-wagon, or else in a motor. The wagon required nine to twelve hours for the journey, and started at five o'clock, and the motor was scheduled to cover the same ground in four hours, but did not leave till the next morning at nine. 1 was anxious to get to my journey's end, and chose the wagon ride, which I regretted more than once during the long weary hours of that memorable journey. However, for the benefit of anyone who may be contemplating taking this trip, it was infinitely preferable to the motor in which 1 returned three weeks later. That was the essence of compressed discomfort, and can only be described as resembling a rapid transit ride over the roughest, ruttiest (if there is such a word) road imaginable. We arrived at the foot of the mountain at four o'clock next morning, and after a brief delay enabling us to get a cup of tea, we started on the final part of our journey. UP THE MOUNTAIN. This was accomplished in what resembled a hammock, slung on two poles, which were supported ou the shoulders of four coolies, two in the front and two in the rear. It was still dark when we began the ascent, and we had twelve miles along the zig-zag path to accomplish before noon. I found this method of conveyance fairly comfortable after the wagon experience, especially as the coolies stepped in unison in a long swaying motion, so that 1, at any rate, was not jolted unnecessarily. My friend, who was in front of mc, was not so fortunate, as her coolies showed "lack of rhythm," as she expressed it, and fbe was consequently far from comfortable. The monotony of the tramp, tramp, was occasionally enlivened by a quaint chant sung by the coolies, which had the •rood effect of making them all step in time. It sounded like: "Hohang, ho-hang-i," and the long drawn-out notes echoed and re-echoed from the surroundin" hills, faintly like an answering cry. A*—"lit disturbance arose among the coolies', who wished to exchange places with each other, clamouring to conve> the lightweight of the. party, but the riot was quelled by a timely tap with an umbrella on the head of the notsiest coolie, and we continued. About eleven o'clock we arrived at our destination, and a welcome sight it was. THE KODAIKANAL OBSERVATORY. The Kodaikanal Observatory is perched on one of the summits of tne Palni Hills, at an elevation of nearly 7 000 feet above the level of the plains b'clow. In live hours we had passed from the region of torrid heat to a climate delightfully cold by contrast, but ideal for studying the sun. Under cover of a large stone building, constructed specially for the purpose, is the spectroheliograph, with which the sun is photographed on every line day by Mr. Evershed (director of the Observatory. He is wresting wonderful secrets from the orb of day, and has discovered an interesting fact regarding sun-spots, hitherto unsuspected. DISCOVERY ABOUT SUNSPOTS. Hitherto sun-spots were supposed to be hollows and cavities filled with gases and vapours, cooler and darker than the surrounding regions of the sun's surface. According to Mr. Evershed he has found that in all the sun-spots examined, the outer or pcnumbral region " is the seat of a force directed radially outward from the umbra in all directions, parallel to the sun's surface." Seeking for a terrestrial analogy, Mr. Evershed found an excellent illustration in the structure of a large white daisy. Likening the yellow centre to tie umbra of a sun-spot then the direction in which the white petals radiate from the centre illustrates the direction in which the gaseous materials radiate outward from the umbra or spot centre. The source of supply seems to be from above rather than from below, the fresh material descending at the slow rate of a quarter of a mile per second. RECREATIONS OP AN ASTRONOMER. For some reason, an astronomer is regarded more or less with awe, and it supposed to bo either deeply immersed in the study of ponderous Volumes on scientific topics or busily engaged in the observatory routine connected with solar or stellar research. Mr. Evershed, however, shares with other scientists the belief in timely recreations, and his special hobby is rambling with Mrs. Evershed among the sylvan glades on the summit of Kodaikanal in search of butterflies, and his collection of gorgeous specimens testifies to the success he has had in this direction.