eight 
Pek 
312 Postscript :—LeVerrier’s Report. 
ages which become visible when the solar light is sufficiently dim 
A few words more will finish the description of the phenomenon and 
of the observations. Ismail-Effendi, a young Egyptian attached to the 
Paris Observatory for three years past, a very expert astronomer, and who 
accompanied the French expedition to Spain, has sent me a drawin 
which proves the appearance of luminous clouds in the east immediately 
before the commencement of the eclipse. The clouds in question form a 
slightly elevated but continuous band embracing 90° of the outline of the 
. This band was not long visible, but was eclipsed behind the lunar 
disc, and it had in effect ceased when I passed over this region in explor- 
ing the whole periphery with a power which allowed me to see only por- 
tions successively. 
magnetic observations were made at Paris, the variations being 
sensibly simultaneous for the whole of Europe, and M. Desains, who 
took note of the magnetic observations, detected no perturbations during 
the eclipse. 
Physical constitution of the Sun.—A reconstruction or even a com- 
Let us then hereafter give the name of solar clouds to the rosy append- 
ly dimmed. 
plete abandonment of the theory hitherto prevalent as to the physical 
constitution of the Sun appears to me essential. It must give place to 
one far more simple. 
We have been hitherto assured that the Sun was composed of a cen- 
tral dark globe; that above this globe existed an immense atmosphere of 
sombre clouds, still higher was placed the photosphere, a self-luminous, 
gaseous envelope, and the source of the light and heat of the sun. 
Where the clouds of the photosphere are rent, says the old theory, the 
dark body of the Sun is seen in the spots which so frequently appear. 
o this complex constitution must be added a third envelope formed 
the accumulation of roseate clou 
Now, I fear that the greater part of these envelopes are only fictions— 
that the Sun is a body, luminous, simply because of its high temper 
ture, and covered by an unbroken layer of roseate matter whose ¢ 
is now proved. This luminary thus formed of a central nucleus, 
or solid, and covered by an atmosphere, falls within the law common 
the constitution of celestial bodies. 
sideration from physicists and astronomers and we shall take cate to give 
it the attention it deserves. 
Not will the question be settled peaceably—already M. Faye ( Comptes ; 
Rend., Aug. 13) in presenting to the French Academy a long letter he 
refers the corona and the luminous clouds to simple optical appearance 
and not to the essential constitution of the Sun or of his atmosphere. 
the results of other observers—that the Sun. has no atmosphere a0 
€ appearances recorded are purely optical !—Eps. | + 
xistence 
liquid — 
ea 
hs 
