191. Sun-Spot Spectrum.—When the image of a sun-spot is thrown upon the slit of the spectroscope, the spectrum is seen to be crossed longitudinally by a continuous dark band, showing an increased general absorption in the region of the sun-spot. Many of the spectral lines are greatly thickened, as shown in Fig. 210. This thickening of the lines shows that the absorption is taking place at a greater depth. New lines and shadings often appear, which indicate, that, in the cooler nucleus of the spot, certain compound vapors exist, which are dissociated elsewhere on the sun's surface. These lines and shadings are shown in Fig. 211.
Fig. 211.
It often happens that certain of the spectral lines are reversed in the spectrum of the spot, a thin bright line appearing over the centre of a thick dark one, as shown in Fig. 212. These reversals are due to very bright vapors floating over the spot.
Fig. 212.
At times, also, the spectrum of a spot indicates violent motion in the overlying gases by distortion and displacement of the lines. This phenomenon occurs oftener at points near the outer edge of the penumbra than over the centre of the spot; but occasionally the whole neighborhood is violently agitated. In such cases, lines in the spectrum side by side are often affected in entirely different ways, one being greatly displaced while its neighbor is not disturbed in the least, showing that the vapors which produce the lines are at different levels in the solar atmosphere, and moving independently of each other.
Fig. 213.
192. The Cause and Nature of Sun-Spots.—According to Professor Young, the arrangement and relations of the photospheric clouds in the neighborhood of a spot are such as are represented in Fig. 213. "Over the sun's surface generally, these clouds probably have the form of vertical columns, as at aa. Just outside the spot, the level of the photosphere is the most part, overtopped by eruptions of hydrogen and usually raised into faculæ, as at bb. These faculæ are, for metallic vapors, as indicated by the shaded clouds.... While the great clouds of hydrogen are found everywhere upon the sun, these spiky, vivid outbursts of metallic vapors seldom occur except just in the neighborhood of a spot, and then only during its season of rapid change. In the penumbra of the spot the photospheric filaments become more or less nearly horizontal, as at pp; in the umbra at u it is quite uncertain what the true state of affairs may be. We have conjecturally represented the filaments there as vertical also, but depressed and carried down by a descending current. Of course, the cavity is filled by the gases which overlie the photosphere; and it is easy to see, that, looked at from above, such a cavity and arrangement of the luminous filaments would present the appearances actually observed."