It must be noticed that the sun’s apparent diameter is not always the same.  He is nearer to us in winter than in summer, and, of course, his apparent diameter is greater at the former than at the latter season.  The variation of the apparent diameter corresponds (inversely) to the variation of distance.  As the sun’s greatest distance from the earth is 93,000,000 miles (pretty nearly) and his least 90,000,000, his greatest, mean, and least apparent diameters are as 93, 91-1/2, and 90 respectively; that is, as 62, 61, and 60 respectively.

Mr. Howlett considers that with a good 3-inch telescope, applied in the manner we have described, all the solar features may be seen, except the separate granules disclosed by first-class instruments in the hands of such observers as Dawes, Huggins, or Secchi.  Faculae may, of course, be well seen.  They are to be looked for near spots which lie close to the sun’s limb.

When the sun’s general surface is carefully scrutinised, it is found to present a mottled appearance.  This is a somewhat delicate feature.  It results, undoubtedly, from the combined effect of the granules separately seen in powerful instruments.  Sir John Herschel has stated that he cannot recognise the marbled appearance of the sun with an achromatic.  Mr. Webb, however, has seen this appearance with such a telescope, of moderate power, used with direct vision; and certainly I can corroborate Mr. Howlett in the statement that this appearance may be most distinctly seen when the image of the sun is received within a well-darkened room.

My space will not permit me to enter here upon the discussion of any of those interesting speculations which have been broached concerning solar phenomena.  We may hope that the great eclipse of August, 1868, which promises to be the most favourable (for effective observation) that has ever taken place, will afford astronomers the opportunity of resolving some important questions.  It seems as if we were on the verge of great discoveries,—­and certainly, if persevering and well-directed labour would seem in any case to render such discoveries due as man’s just reward, we may well say that he deserves shortly to reap a harvest of exact knowledge respecting solar phenomena.

THE END.

FOOTNOTES: 

[Footnote 1:  Such a telescope is most powerful with the shortest sight.  It may be remarked that the use of a telescope often reveals a difference in the sight of the two eyes.  In my own case, for instance, I have found that the left eye is very short-sighted, the sight of the right eye being of about the average range.  Accordingly with my left eye a 5-1/2-foot object-glass, alone, forms an effective telescope, with which I can see Jupiter’s moons quite distinctly, and under favourable circumstances even Saturn’s rings.  I find that the full moon is too bright to be observed in this way without pain, except at low altitudes.]