VOLCANOES ON THE SUN.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXX, Issue 10107, 4 August 1893, Page 3

VOLCANOES ON THE SUN.

In the course of au interview with a representative of the Sydney Daily Telegraph, with reference to the cablegram to the effect that Professor Sohaeberle, of the world famous Lick Observatory, had discovered that the surface of the sun is covered with immense volcanoes, Mr H. C. Bussell, the Government Astronomer of New South Wales, gave some most interesting information on the subject of solar volcanoes and their phenomena. Professor Sohaeberle, it may be stated,, ia one of several assistants who have charge of the great telescope at the Lick Observatory. He has held , hia present position for only a year or two, and this ia the first occasion on which his name has como promiently before the world in connection with any important astronomical discovery. “ There ia nothing new," said Mr Bussell, "in the theory that volcanoes exist, and that volcanic eruptions take place on the * sun’s surface. These eruptions have for many years been regularly observed by astronomers. The cablegram probably refers to a successful attempt to photograph the red flames or volcanic eruptions which are seen on the sun’s surface. Several astronomers have been energetically working with this end in view, and it would be an important step in advance if this has been done. It is not clear from the cable whether the professor has actually seen a volcano. If he has observed a rigid or solid body on the sun’s surface, it ia a most important discovery ; but to me it: seems improbable, because the most careful observation of the sun’s surface for many years past has confirmed the belief that the eruptions take place through a fluid or gaseous envelope surrounding the solar body, which appears to ' us to be the surface of the sun. There have been no phenomena heretofore observed which would indicate that the mountains of the sun—if such exist—protrude through the fluid envelope, recognised by astronomers as the surface of the sun. If Professor Sohaeberle has succeeded in observing a solid surface to the sun, his discovery will materially modify the theories which have been given to account for the phenomena observed at its surface j but such u discovery is highly improbable if previous observations are to be trusted." Mr Bussell went on to say that the red flames or volcanic eruptions were first noticed many years since, during a total eclipse of the sun. A few years ago, however, the important discovery waa made that by using a spectroscope ia a certain manner they could at any time. The eruptions are of a very intricate character, and exceedingly tapid in their motion, so that it is almost impossible to make drawings of them which will really portray details. For this reason efforts have been continuously kept up for a long time, with the object of making the photographing of these eruptive disturbances on the sun a success. Mr Bussell exhibited a number of beautiful and valuable photographs, obtained by astronomers during the past twenty-five years, in order to demonstrate how really difficult a.mattor, from a scientific point of view, it was to obtain such successful results in connection with volcanic phenomena on the sun as Professor Sohaeberle is alleged to have obtained.