F. W. Very — A Cosmic Cycle. 49 



tude of the operations by which it is directed. Professor 

 .Newcomb's conclusions* on this point are entirely favorable to 

 the view that the cause of the solar period of 11.13 years is 

 internal and deep-seated. 



If the velocities due to central explosions are great enough 

 to enable some portions of central material not only to reach 

 the surface but to penetrate the photosphere and emerge as 

 coronal streamers, these must be most concentrated in the 

 equatorial regions ; also those streamers emerging in high lati- 

 tudes will fall behind the general rotation as they ascend, and 

 will appear to curve away from the axis. Since as directly 

 viewed from the earth's northern hemisphere, the rotation is 

 from left to right, the polar filaments on the nearer side of the 

 sun's northern hemisphere will appear to curve to the left up 

 to an axis of symmetry somewhat to the right of the axis of 

 rotation. Observations on this point are conflicting, which may 

 imply that the coronal substance is of a transparent sort, and 

 that the brightest streamers at the poles are sometimes on the 

 nearer, sometimes on the farther side. Spreading, or forked 

 streamers will be produced if members on opposite sides of the 

 pole are superposed. The general form produced by central 

 explosive agency is masked at sun-spot maxima by luminous 

 curving and tree-like structures emitted in various directions, 

 especially over the sun-spot zones. 



Stellar Explosive Agencies. 



In seeking a possible cause for explosions of cosmical magni- 

 tude, it seems to me that we must be guided by something like 

 the following considerations: The lower orders of material 

 substance are successively limited. In ascending towards their 

 sources they throw off their outer coverings and expand into 

 fuller freedom and potency. A block of ice has but little 

 power of internal (thermal) motion. Transformed into water 

 it has a greater activity. As steam it lifts great weights. 

 Pesolved into its chemical constituents, it becomes a dangerous 

 explosive. Tear its atoms asunder and gigantic solar maelstroms 

 ensue at whose turmoil distant worlds may tremble. 



The analogy should not be pushed too far. The breaking 

 up of the atoms must follow new lines, must indeed be, in some 

 respects, opposed to the processes which produce change of 

 state in the molecular condition. Heat disappears in the rare- 

 faction of matter. It should be evolved in its destruction. 



The grosser material substances change with the progress of 

 time. Their underlying atoms seem more permanent; never- 

 theless, these also have a history, and have passed through an 



*S. Newcomb, Astrophysical Journal, vol. xiii, p. 1, 1901. 

 Am. Jour. Sci. — Fourth Series, Yol. XIII, No. 73.— January, 1902. 



