80 IOWA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 



1895. 



The steady decline in numbers of solar o^roups and spots 

 mentioned as having set in during the latter half of 1894, 

 continued during this year, but with some rather sharp 

 fluctuations. During tiie year several striking disturbances 

 were noted. A train of spots in the soutliern hemisphere, 

 on January 28th, was the location of considerable spectro- 

 scopic disturbance, the Ha line being reversed and dis- 

 torted in numerous portions of the group. March was 

 noted for a fine group which made the transit from 16th to 

 26th, about lO'^ south of the equator. 



Some large spots were present during April, a fine 

 normal one on the 28th, near the west limb, contained a 

 dense black hole or nucleus in the umbra. Some beautful 

 and" active disturbances were witnessed in the month of 

 June; on the 6th an active protuberance was seen near the 

 new group on the east limb, and the region surrounding 

 the spots near by was spectroscopically active. 



On the 16th, much disturbance in and around a large 

 group in north latitude, consisting of reversals and distor- 

 tions of the Hydrogen lines directed towards the red end 

 of the spectrum, was observed. 



Several large spots were observed during the first half 

 of August, one large spot persisting during four solar rota- 

 tions; its umbra was quite interesting from day to day, at 

 times being single, double, round, irregular and curved. 

 • Other large groups were seen during the closing days of 

 September, the fore part of October, and again during the 

 third decade of the same month; also from November 1st 

 to 9th and latter part of December, 



1896. 



Notwithstanding the fact that the present year is the 

 third following the maximum, the solar surface contained 

 some unusually large groups during the year. It is worthy 

 of note that the descending curve of solar activity is fre- 

 quently marked by sudden and enormous outbursts of the 

 solar gases or other forms of energy which give rise to the 



