Page:In the high heavens.djvu/275

globe actually exhibits a temperature hotter than before the loss of heat took place.

In the facts just mentioned we have an explanation of the sustained heat of the sun.

Fig. 32.—Solar Eruption, May 3, 1892.

Of course we cannot assume that in our calculations the sun is to be treated as if it were gaseous throughout its entire mass, but it approximates so largely to the gaseous state in the greater part of its bulk that we can feel no hesitation in adopting the belief that the true cause has been found. To justify the adequacy of this method of explaining the facts I may mention the following result of a calculation. If the sun were to lose sufficient heat to enable it to shrink in its diameter by one ten-thou-