SUN’S SURFACE STILL DISTURBED.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17991, 30 October 1926, Page 8

SUN’S SURFACE STILL DISTURBED.

DIAGRAM SHOWS SPOTS.

The sun on October 20. 1926, at llhr 10m a.m., showing the positions of the two spots when visible on the disk. (From a photograph taken at that time). The sizes of the spots are about twice the true size compared with the size of the disk. Mr P. W. Glover, of the Physical Laboratory, Canterbury .College, writes to the Editor of the “Star” as follows: Sir,—“ The diagram which I enclose may be of interest to your readers, when compared with those prepared by the Rev Dudley and by myself and published in your paper previously. - It will be seen that the number of spots on the sun’s visible disk has decreased from about fifteen to two large ones. In my diagram 1 have exaggerated the size of the spots to about twice what they ought to be in proportion to the size of the disk in order that they may reproduce better. “ I can claim a good deal of accuracy in my diagram, since it is prepared from a photograph taken by Mr Skev and myself at the time and date indicated, the orientation of the axes being adjusted afterwards by careful calculation and reduction from the data given for physical observations of the sun in the British Admiralty Nautical Almanac for the current year. “It is interesting to note that in connection with the disturbed state of the sun’s surface, there has been observed a fine display of the Aurora Australis, together with, at the same time, a magnetic storm. ’* ,