<>ome Decent 



By Rev. W. R. WAUGH, F.R.A.S. 



the right understanding of Sim Spots it might be 

 well to remember some of the leading features of 

 solar constitution. Of its actual nucleus we 

 know nothing beyond the conjecture that it is 

 probably gaseous. Of the envelopes, which have 

 been scientifically studied from the beginning of 

 the last century, we possess well ascertained facts. 

 These are given in all astronomical text books. We are indebted 

 to Dr. Young, of New Jersey, for one of the clearest statements 

 of the general character of these marvellous coverings of the 

 solar nucleus. To wit, there is the photosphere ; that is, the 

 luminous surface of the sun directly visible to the eye, and, of 

 course/ more definitely seen in the telescope. It probably 

 consists of luminous clouds, and is formed by the vapour of 

 metals in a condition of excessively high temperature far beyond 

 any artificial heat of which we have any knowledge in the 

 furnaces of earth. The facula, the bright spots, the macula, or 

 dark spots, are all phenomena of this covering layer. Its 

 chemical constitution consists largely of carbon, boron, and 

 silicon. The other layers lie outside our present subject, except 

 so far as they constitute an element in the formation of Sun 

 Spots. The time at our disposal forbids further remark here. 



