SUN WELL SPOTTED

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 37, 14 February 1938, Page 8

SUN WELL SPOTTED

OVER A HUNDRED NOW

NEW VERY ACTIVE GROUP

The big sunspot which has. come round to the centre of the sun again, and which on its appearance last month caused widespread magnetic disturbances and auroral phenomena, |vas closely studied at the Dominion Observatory this morning. Since its reappearance last Thursday on the eastern limb of the sun. it has to a great extent become disrupted, and as now showing definite signs of disintegration. It should be exactly central on the sun's disc about midnight tonight, so if there is going to be any repetition of last month's magnetic disturbances and auroral displays tonight should be the night. .

As a matter of fact, during the last few days there have been considerable magnetic disturbances, very noticeable their effect on short-wave radio. On Friday evening between 8.45 and 9 p.m. a very distinct aurora was visible in the-south'-western sky from Wellington, but no, reports have been received about any display being visible on Saturday night or last night, the present brightness of the moon being a facto? against the brilliance of auroral displays. There was i much interference with short-wave radio reception last night. . : ■

This morning 107 spots on the sun were counted. Out of this total 34 are in five groups which have just appeared round the sun's eastern limb. These five groups are clustered together and are in a zone of the sun which has been particularly active since January, 1937. At the time of the total, eclipse of the sun last year, observed by Dominion astronomers ■from the Pacific, this zone was at the top of the eclipse rim, and its activity had, a marked effect Upon the sun's corona which was rendered visible by the eclipse. From present appearances this group of spots looks as if it is going to be very active. . It will be centrally situated on the sun between February 16 and 18. Activity in this zone of the sun caused tremendous radio and magnetic upheavals in April last year, the effects being world-wide. Should this zone still have the same kick in it as it had then it will be interesting to see what phenomena occur later dn" this week.- The big spot andi the new spots may between them produce something, startling; ■