Prof. Norton on Molecular Physics. 211 



To this we may add, that as we have 

 reason to believe that the temperature of the mass of the sun 

 decreases toward the poles (/. c, pp. 269-270), the molecules of the 

 photospheric matter may be less widely separated there, or be 

 combined in groups so as to be subject to a less energetic force 

 of repulsion from the sun. It is conceivable, too, that in special 

 localities the electric waves or currents originated by the planets 

 may operate to disunite molecules in the act of combining or 

 condensing at the surface of the photosphere (the state of things 

 supposed by Faye), and so bring them into the condition to be 

 repelled and completely dispersed by the repulsive force of the 

 sun. The process of dispersion having once begun, from any 

 cause, may extend indefinitely downward. 



There is a special mode of origination of spots, connected with 

 the sun's motion in space, that has not yet been noticed. It is 

 that the cosmical matter as it flows away from the region of 

 normal impact toward the equator will become demagnetized, 

 and thus initiate the process of dispersion of certain portions of 

 the photospheric matter. The effect will be especially produced 

 on the opposite side of the pole from the point of normal im- 

 pact, as the changes of the induced magnetism will there be the 

 greatest. A similar effect may ensue from a flow toward the 

 equator of the matter at the very surface of the photosphere, 

 produced by the impulses of the cosmical matter or aether. The 

 phenomena are precisely similar to the auroral phenomena that 

 light up occasionally the earth's photosphere (/. c. p. 280). This 

 is undoubtedly the origin of the annual maximum of spots after 

 the autumnal equinox detected by Professor Wolf. It is the 

 result of the effects previously noticed, augmented by that here 

 considered. An inferior maximum manifests itself in December, 

 which is the direct result of this cause alone. (See Astronomische 

 Nachrichten, Nos. 1043 and 1223.) It is important to observe 

 here that when a planet is on that side of the sun, or in the vici- 

 nity of the ascending magnetic node before alluded to, it tends 

 to check this southerly flow of matter at the surface of the pho- 

 tosphere, and so prevent the development of spots from the 

 cause in question. We may add that we have doubtless another 

 revelation of its operation in the predominating irregular dis- 

 turbances of the magnetic needle in the autumnal months (or 

 from August to December inclusive; see Professor Bache's 

 Reports). The secondary maximum of the annual inequality 

 of spots and magnetic disturbances near the vernal equinox is 

 to be chiefly attributed to the demagnetization in the vicinity of 

 the descending magnetic node already considered. 



The spots are more numerous in the northern than in the 

 southern hemisphere of the sun, because the low latitudes at 



P2 



