Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 February 1875 — The Sun’s Temperature. [ARTICLE]

The Sun’s Temperature.

M. Cailletet is of opinion that the highest attainable temperature is probably net more than 2,000 deg. C.; and M. Violle, who has been experimenting on the same subject, puts it at only 1,400 deg. C. The former gentleman, in experimenting on the influence of pressure upon combustion, obtained some remarkable results. At first the light gradually increased, until a candle flame became as briliant as the phosphorus burned in oxygen. But when the pressure passed a certain point the flames became smoky, and deposited flakes of lampblack The explanation is that the temperature rose with the pressure until the temperature at which the hydrocarbon gases of the candle are dissociated was reached. The use of the spectroscope confirmed this view. There is, therefore, a limit to the possible temperatures, and, as M. Cailletet shows, those who conceive the sun’s temperature to be several millions of degrees are very decidedly in error. He has made measurements of this temperature by means of apparatus the construction of which is described in “ Comptes Rendus.” He found that at Grenoble, June 20, at 3:30 p. m., the temperature of .the sun was 1,354 deg. C. In presenting these results St. Claire Deville gave them his cordial indorsement. —Galaxy for February.