22 LIGHT SCIENCE FOR LEISURE HOURS. 



of the lovely blush which I saw in 1851. Higher still 

 the sky was moderately dark, but not so dark as in 

 former eclipses.' 



Mr. Airy noted a remarkable circumstance in con- 

 nection with the red prominences. They were not of 

 the same colour as in 1842 and 1851. The quality of 

 the colour was exactly the same ' full-blush red (or 

 nearly lake) but it was diluted with white' (an 

 evidence of higher temperature), ' and more diluted at 

 the roots of the prominences close to the moon's limb 

 than in the most elevated points.' 



Of course the red prominences do not necessarily 

 reach from the sun's surface, as a mountain from the 

 surface of the earth. Masses suspended in the solar 

 atmosphere would appear as prominences resembling 

 mountains, unless they happened to be of comparatively 

 moderate extent, and were seen in such a position that 

 the space between them and the sun's surface became 

 perceptible. Those serrated ridges, therefore, that we 

 see may belong to the upper surfaces of masses sus- 

 pended high above the true surface of the sun. 



Before proceeding, however, to inquire a little into 

 the probable constitution of these marvellous objects, 

 it will be well to give a brief description of what was 

 seen by Continental observers during the last great 

 eclipse. Leverrier says that the first object which he 

 saw in the telescopic field of view when totality had 

 commenced, was * an isolated cloud, entirely separated 

 from the moon's limb by a space equal to its own size.' 

 He adds, that the colour of the cloud was a fine rose, 



