SEEN IN THE STARS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 191, 30 August 1937, Page 10

SEEN IN THE STARS

Huge Spot on Planet Jupiter FACE OF MARS CHANGES Happenings iu three lieavenly bodies which may cause trouble for the earth were reported to the Amencan Association for tlie Advaneement of Science recently, says the New York Times. They are: A huge, new spot on the planet Jupiter which js tlie beginning of a mysterious storm there ; a remarkable cliange on the face of Mars, whieli looks like a fine dust sweepmg the pianet; and record-breaking sunspot storms on the sun. Jupiter 's spot south of the planet's equator, a dark patch perhaps the size of North Anierica, was discovered within the past montli at the Lowell Observatory, at Flagstaff, Arizona", and announeed by E. O. Sliphcr. The spot lies ln what astrouomers think is an outer sliell of clouds, which include ammonia and inetliaue and liides the surface of Jupiter. Occasionaliy in years past a similar single spot has appeared in Jupiter and' has bebn loliowed by a. cluster of spots, indicating storms big eiiongh to swallow the entire earth. This new spot has no connection with Jupiter's famous "big red spot," which is' seen permanctly. The new storm spot, however, is in tlie same lioinispkere. The cliange in Mars's face was also announeed by Mr Sliplier and brouglit comment from tho astrouomers. It was disclosed by photographs of Mars taken in blue Jiglit. Mars has become much brighter recently as' seen in these blue photos. The brightness could be due to the dissolving of all the fogs and storm clouds, leaving the planet's entire "air" cry-stal-clear, or, as astronomers tliink rnore likely, to dispersion of fine dust over most of Mars's face; The dust would refiect more light. The sunspot storms were reported from Mount Wilson by Seth B. Nicholson and Elizabeth Sternberg Mulders and read by Alfred H. Joy, of the same observatory. The new spots, they said, are running into about 150 a day, and will increase in number until January. Then, within the first four months of thef nexb year, the earth may expect their full force, with prospects of .brealdng all spot records for this century and possibly exceeding 1870, which, in astronomical annals, holds the top for great groups of spots. One all-time record already has been broken this year. This was the most "vicious" and longest magnetic storm on record. It was due to a group of sunspots. Dr Joy showed these spots on a lantern slide — coal-black markings which were twisted out of semblance of sunspot tendeney to rouijdness. The jihotographs showed the spots not only twisted into streamers but doing a snake dance. There were a dozen huge spots and apparently seores of little ones. Dr A. G. McNish, of the Carnegie Institution, Wasliiogton, said tliat tlie magnetic stom from these spots liad the greatest intensity and longest duration on record, from April 24 to 28, inclusive. There liave been three greatcr magnetic storms in the sun's recorded 'history, but none so "vicious." Kadio and telegraph, he said were disrupted time after time. The coming sunspot maximum promises to be bigger and raise more havoo than any for several decades, and in addition the radio networks which the sun can upset and the telegraph wires it can put in trouble are more extensive than during any previous sunspot period. Oue benefit is expected — more rain. But astronomers cannot predict on places that already liave too much whether it will fall on dust bowls or moisture.