THE SUN. 135 



THE SUN. 



Whatever relates to the dimensions, or to the present views 

 as to the physical constitution of the central body, has been 

 already given. (Cosmos, vol. iv., p. 59-88.) It only re- 

 mains to add in this place some remarks, according to the 

 most recent observations, upon the red figures and masses 

 of red clouds, which were specially treated of at page 70. 

 The important phenomena which the total eclipse of the Sun 

 of July 28, 1851, presented in Eastern Europe, have still 

 more strengthened the opinion put forward by Arago in 1842, 

 that the red mountain, or cloud-like projections upon the edge 

 of the eclipsed Sun, belong to the outermost gaseous envelope 

 of the central body.* These projections became visible on the 

 Moon's western edge as it proceeded in its motion toward the 

 east (Annuaire du Bureau des Longitudes for 1842, p. 457), 

 and disappeared again when they were covered on the oppo- 

 site by the eastern edge of the Moon. 



On a subsequent occasion, the intensity of the light of these 

 projections became so considerable, that they could be per- 

 ceived within the corona through telescopes, when veiled by 

 their clouds, and even with the naked eye. 



The form of some of the projections, which were mostly 

 ruby or peach-colored, changed with perceptible rapidity dur- 

 ing the total obscuration ; one of these projections appeared to 

 be curved at its summit, and presented to many observers the 

 appearance of a freely-suspended detached cloud\ near the 

 point, and resembling a ^column of smoke curved back at the 

 top. The height of most of these projections was estimated 

 at from V to 2' ; at one point it is said to have been more. 

 Besides these tap-formed projections, from three to five of 

 which were counted, there were also observed ribbon-like 

 streaks of a carmine color, extended lengthways, which ap- 

 peared to rest upon the Moon, and were often serrated. \ 



* Cosmos, vol. iv., p. 70, note t and , and p. 79. 



t Compare the observations of the Swedish mathematician, Bigerus 

 Vassenius, at Gottenburg, during the total eclipse of May 2, 1733, and 

 the commentary upon them by Arago, in the Annuaire du Bureau des 

 Longitudes for 1846, p. 441 and 462. Dr. Galle, who observed on the 

 28th of July at Frauenburg, saw " the freely-suspended cloud connect- 

 ed with the carved, hook-formed gibbosity by three or more threads." 



t Compare what a very expert observer, Captain Berard, saw at Tou- 

 lon upon the 8th of July, 1842. " II vit nne bande rouge tres mince, 

 dentelee irr6gulierement." {Annuaire du Bureau des Longitudes, p. 

 416.) " He saw a very narrow red band irregularly serrated." 



