STRANGE NEWS ABOUT THE SOLAR PROMINENCES. 
51 
almost perceptible to the eye, until in ten minutes ( 1 li. 5 m. 
p.M.) the uppermost were more than 200,000 miles above the 
solar surface. This was ascertained by careful measurements ; 
the mean of three closely accordant determinations gave 7' 49" 
as the extreme altitude attained ; and I am particular in the 
statement because, so far as I know, chromatospheric matter (red 
hydrogen* in this case) has never before been observed at an 
altitude exceeding 5'. The velocity of ascent also, 167 miles 
per second, is considerably greater than anything hitherto 
recorded. A general idea of the appearance presented when 
the filaments attained their greatest elevation may be obtained 
from fig. 2. 
Fig. 2. 
44 As the filaments rose they gradually faded away like a 
dissolving cloud, and at 1 h. 15 m. p.M. only a few filmy wisps, 
with some brighter streamers low down near the chromato- 
sphere, remained to mark the place. But in the meanwhile 
the little 4 thunder-head ’ before alluded to had grown and 
developed wonderfully, into a mass of rolling and ever-chang- 
ing flame, to speak according to appearances. First it was 
* Prof. Young probably means that be was observing the red image of 
tbe cloud and uprushing matter — i.e. the image formed by rays correspond- 
ing to the C-line of hydrogen. Father Secchi mentions ;that he finds the 
indigo image (i.e. the image formed by rays corresponding to the Gr-line of 
hydrogen) the most perfect and the fullest in details. 
