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Page 14
Page 18
15,
18,
Page 26 bottom
line, for
78611554 read
23, 1870.
MODERN ASTRONOMY,
WITH AN EXPOSITION OF WHAT THEY TEACH
COMPRISING THE
Jim mi
Mm,
THE
BY WM.
S.
HENSON,
STJ3ST
SPOTS.
NEWARK,
N.
J.
1871.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the District Court of the United States,
BY
at Trenton,
&-<?
TO
S.
New Jersey,
HENSON,
on the
2fld
of April, 1ST0.
IhdCv -LAAjiX^,
;;
INDEX.
I.
II.
III.
Stars.
Aggregation
Law
of
Laws
IX.
Law of
Distances Described.
Aggregation;
geneous;
Formation of Strata
X.
XI.
of Rotating Bodies.
The Moon
its
not
Homo-
FiistLife;
Coal; iErolites.
Possible Origin
Historical Myth.
of Meteors
Spectrum Analysis
Produce
Roscoe's
Mayer's Ideas
Flames Colored
Light from
it.
Cucke's
Comet Retardation of, Cause of; Comet Tails Indicate Resistance and Direction Tail of Comet of 1680.
XIV. Velocity of Light; Weight of Sunbeam Loss to Sun therefrom; Comparative Heat by Grains of Coal and Cosmical Matter.
XV. Effect of Change in Sun's Motion by Change of Matter; Diminished
Rotation; Age of System and "World Slight effect produced upon
XIII.
XVI. Conclusion
End of our
XVII. Verses.
Period.
PREFACE.
About seven years
tions of the sun
me
my
attention
temporary
leisure evenings of a
became attracted
solar system.
as indicating the action of centrifugal force, or, in other words, the posi-
and thought,
considerable examination
for
some of the
ago, during
when
on their axis
in the
I considered the
moved round
same direction
all
from west to
it
so
revolving
east,
and
all
the sun in their orbits from west to east, and the satellites of
struck
me
moved round
their primaries
from west to
as a
finally
after
was
all
it
until the
their orbits,
was not
for.
how and
autumn of 1869
that I succeeded
The
solution of the
law of
distances,
same plane,
extent,
me
from Herschel's
boldt's cosmos.
able
work on
My information
that subject.
to
am
round the
I otherwise
outlines,
but I
am
chiefly
on spectrum analysis
Mayer
first
obtained,
indebted to
Hum-
first
learned from
rotary motion I
flying
interlacing with
and
law, followed as a
Bode
some
as the
to
known
its
Van
Nostrand's Magazine, in
laws, as described,
drawn from
by
own
history.
The
Preface.
laws of aggregation round a centre are also due to myself, as well as the solution of the
law of
distances,
which
necessarily
aggregation round a centre, and which accounts for the astronomers not* being
comprehend
able to
My views
it.
on light
because without
it
compelled to believe
I cannot
many
so
it
case,
but
am, therefore,
is really
To my mind
matter.
is
it
appears to be
created, as everything is
fires.
Newton assumed
most
that light
its
hitherto
density
made
to
its
it
known
substance.
accordingly.
weigh
it
its
action
analysis indicates
why
upon the
Being matter,
am
I believe I
it
sun's
had
it
be-
first
to
motion gives
the
also reason-
tolerable approximations.
make no
pretensions to be an astronomer, or to
enter into the extreme exactness of that exalted science, but the business of
my
I
has
life
made me
have traced the motions of the planets to their source, I have undertaken, in
my own
stand
way, to make
if it
it
known.
it is
If
it is
not true,
let it fall.
WILLIAM
S.
HENSON.
He placed
Mundi)
moving in circles round him.
Kepler discovered the three celebrated laws which bear his name, and that
Galileo
the planets moved in elliptic (uot circular) orbits round the sun.
and Jansen invented the telescope. Sir Isaac Newton discovered the laws of
cated ptolemaic system was overthrown.
gravitation,
Sir
by.
on the binary
revolve round
star systems,
where two
stars
With our
without
it
there could be
may
no
stars.
The
telescope gave an
immense impe-
17th, 18th
and 19th
satellites of Jupiter,
100.
American reader
The
and
Jupiter.
their satellites,
and 113
asteroids,
known
being considered the centre of the universe, round which the sun,
stars all revolved.
to the 4th
It
moon and
is
the
centre of our solar system, and revolves on his axis from west to east; that
the planets also revolve in their orbits from west to east,
own
axis, as far as
to east.
The
and
satellites
also
on their
of the earth,
Jupiter and Saturn, also revolve round their primaries from west to east; the
Uranus being exceptions to this rule, and move in orbits somewhat retrograde, and nearly jDerpenclicular to the plane of the ecliptic; Nep-
satellites of
tune's satellites also deviate considerably from the plane of the ecliptic, while
all
and some
and the
few of the asteroids, deviate but slightly from the plane of the ecliptic
plane of the sun's equator inclines only about seven degrees therefrom.
this brief outline of the
main
With
now make
Great Facts of
Modem
Astronomy.
published in 1748)
work
the
first
Sir
William Herschel discovered that our system was moving towards a point
since confirmed
1806).
by others
Here we
and take
and
its
he
laws,
we
mo-
into consideration
is
one of unbalanced
equilibrium, containing the elements of constant but slow change; but I will
In the year 1837 Struve published his third table of multiple stars, contain-
stars,
and
Sir
Cape of Good Hope, discovered 2,100 more; with others, Humboldt makes
the total number 6,000. Among the multiple stars, several self-luminous
bodies are connected by mutual attraction, and revolve around a common
numerous
The
so-called
Nebulous
have led to much discussion and many conjectures as to their origin and constitution.
According to
Sir
least
l-270th
is
good reason
to
doubt
this
somcof
immense
distance.
The spectroscope
in-
Sir
William Herschel,
after
star
cosmical vapor as Halley, Lacaille, Tycho, Brahe and Kepler had done be-
Great
La Place
nj
cal discovery,
With
Humboldt
fore.
preliminary outline-
and give you some views of my own upon the subject of consome of the effects resulting therefrom, which I
years.
what
am about
by attraction and
unite, first
two
to-
gether,then these double parts unite with other double parts, and so on repeating
commence
gravity; while
it
to fall as rain,
by their increased
particles, it floated in
commence
to unite
the air
without mutual
at-
traction.
so
turbance takes place, the particles of vapor attract each other, unite, and
commence
to descend
velocity,
trical
fall,
and unite
they attract
fall
with greater
and overtake the smaller ones and unite with them, and
disturbance
is
It is well
if
the elec-
and
do the same
known,
also,
known
to
when
subjected to great
or quicksilver cau
cient heat
is
applied.
when our
earth
and
sun,
and
all
TT
f
If
we
How
star
at the
commencement of
and
occu-
proceed
we do not
what may be
a shower.
The
is
drops on a
now
pavement
the stars
pied by them.
suffi-
by distances of Neptune
10
page
54),
and
know
being interesting to
it
the sun and planets to the cubic contents of a sphere in space, extending
from. the sun's centre to half
much
way
to
779,922,916,215 to
1,
fill
single grain
spherical miles
48-|-
would be contained
how
their
or as a range of 23 figures to
equal to sphere
it
fill
It will
be evident
would be
in
the condition of a very fine powder, and as the weight or gravity of the one-,
millionth part of a grain
is
it
only such
when
will be evident
attracted
how
by
be the attraction of two such atoms for each other, situated about half a mile
apart,
attraction,
still
From
this
would require
we may form
for
would
it
apart, to attract
many
as it
progression,
double, and the power of attraction of every mass or sphere for every other
mass or sphere,
at that
Law
Newton's Second
therefore,
stant
it
although the distances are double, the mean times will remain con-
mean time required for those atoms'of onemean distances of about hatf a mile apart to
condition of
our.
tended through
consumed
again doubles
gation, until
itself in
and the
stratified
earth appears to indicate that this periodof time must have ex-
many
millions of years.
from atoms of the one-millionth of a grain, to the stupendous mass of our sun
and his planets, would require only 213 duplications, yet when we consider
that the
mean periods
or times of these
and how
we get a faint glimpse
and realize how extremely slow is
Modem
Great Facts of
Sir
Astronomy.
11
motion be
ing everywhere, and knowing" the tremendous, far-reaching influence of gravitation, the conclusion
seems
and
ruling intellect,
I will presently
is
but one of
its
many
upon
will proceed.
body
and
it
had gone
attraction
more
velocity,
and
this latter,
would
would
and
fall
much ac-
was estimated
at 344
presumed that
if it
it
bodies will be as the diameters during every stage, providing the densities
The commencement of aggregation will therefore be chiefly reits silent darkness, intense cold, and apparent absence of motion.
will require about 117 duplications, each with its immense periods of time,
bring the aggregated masses to the volume of a cubic foot, and the motion
are equal.
markable for
It
to
produced by
attraction,
time, will not exceed the thirty-millionth part of a foot per seco*nd
the 158th
They would be
pound.
would be
pable dust, and the least violence would dissipate them into clouds, but the
united terminal velocities immediately preceding conjunction
exceed 5
would not
momentum
would be
about 757 feet per second at this time, yet the force of gravitation would be
only about the five one thousandth of a terrestial
pound
marked change
>
12
wonld begin
conscience,
the dust a more or less pasty
to dissolve into liquid, and form with
and darkcold
of
period
long
the
in
this would again become deeply frozen
a
with air throughout would form
ness following and being commingled
U.ntt
the
At
about 188 miles diameter.
light porous homogenous mass of
of rain,
great heat, temendons storms
of
period
a
at
duplication we arrive
steaming,
stormy,
a
of matter,
formation of rivers, a general commingling
upheavals, and
internal heat would create
the
which
during
period,
chaotic
surface cooled
the
as
and
strata,
deposit
form mountains, lakes and oceans, and
mean temthe
exist,
might
kinds
various
living organisms and vegetation of
but the
Fahrenheit,
218
about
be
perature at the commencement would
heat, and
temperate
more
a
to
radiation
surface would gradually cool by
period become frozen sol.d, as up
would probably during the last half of this
las
profound darkness. At each of these
to this time it would be the most
and
produced
be
probably
considerable rotary motion would
;
duplications
be characterized
their
seething cauldron be too hot at
by increased heat and like a steaming,
remarkbe
also
would
they
life
commencement for either animal or vegetable
imagine;
storms, such as we can scarcely
able for the violence of the rain
of steam, these
atmosphere
the
of
condensation
produced by the immense
upheavals, would produce an immense
stormy floods, and the violent
ingredients would become
grinding and depositing, the denser
;
amount of
form deposits by themselves. The last
separated from the lighter ones and
bright red, visible
first producing light, a
duplication would be remarkable as
at this conjuncFahrenheit,
about 1168
by day, with a mean temperature of
the water and
melted,
be
would
bodies
tion a large number of elementary
would be
period
this
vapor,
into
many other substances would be converted
fire; the great heat
by
assortment
and
the commencement of the ordeal
commingling of enormous masses of
would produce violent upheavals, and
would probably be cool enough to allow
matter the later half of the period
and again produce another period of storm
the steam to condense into water,
each conjunction accompanied
violent floods and great deposits
and
rain
and
temporary
formation of nebulous masses with
by rotary motion and the
obscuration
the
from
period
short
a
invisible after
luminosity, but all becoming
atmosphere.
condensation near the outer limit of the
by
caused
clouds
dense
of
periods would be
their
and
1<J8
to
up
The three succeeding conjunctions
temperature the last one having a mean
remarkable for the great increase of
more
4,074 Fahrenheit about one fourth
temperature at commencement of
he
during
dark
would propably become
than molten cast Iron, the surface
first
o the
latter part be subjected to a repetition
part of the periods and the
and
201st
the
to
up
conjunctions
storms. Thenext three
13
brilliancy
18,847,
would be characterized by increasing splendor and a mean temperature at commencement of the last conjunction of 10o,546, the diameter would be about
96,350 miles, it would now become a permanent sun with considerable rotary
motion and at the last conjunction throw out masses of debris and vapors and
form nebulas, and a planetary system, about the size of Jupiter and his satellites,
the planets would probably be inhabited. Nine more conjunctions up to the
213th would bring us to the dimensions of our own magnificent sun and his
subordinate planets, each of these conjunctions would probably be characterized
all
would probably
s\ stems;
each increasing in size with the increase of the sun's diameter, and probablyeach system of planets more or
instinct,
and
and
intelligence,
less
way adapted
in every
them.
T|"TT
V
I will
and
now
explain
collision of
how
two
rotary motion
spheres,
is
will also
Binary systems and nebulae, the approaches of two spheres towards each other
when
produced by
momentum
weight and
curvilinear motion
approaching
would impart
into
rotary
motion.
If
between them
bits
but
if the
and again go
approaching
off into
lines
common
colli-
velocity,
the
each
sphere would become converted into a lever of the second order, the sides in
contact being the fulcrum, and the whole weight tending to double the velocity
of the outer sides creating rapid rotary motion and throwing off from these
outer sides, enormous quantities of debris to immense distances into space
(indeed were
it
not that
into heat,
it
would
14
throw quantities of debris more than half way) and this debris would
in nearly one plane, like sparks from a revolving rocket
and
this
fly off
would be
be a comet.
millions of comets,
moving
first
commencement,
in orbits interlacing
and
really consists of
There are comparatively few now left in our solar system. Professor Stephen
Alexander suggested the idea that the comets and the asteroids had a common origin. This hypothesis was renounced in consequence of the difference
(Cosmos, Vol. IV., page 183.)
of the orbits.
motions
They meet
much more
the
move
forces
A comet
which abound
at a considerable angle,
the
our system.
in
are
in a
aerolites
and an asteroid
After a few
more
collisions
ascending and descending, the united comets become asteroids, each conjunction
making the
the
first
second phase
is
orbits
more
circular,
comet
body
and they
On
orbit a
month
power of the
Beila's
Encke's
comet.
is
is
The
owing
This
heat.
it
the 29th of October, 1832, Beila's comet passed through the earth's
(Cosmos, Vol.
is
and Humboldt
states
He
amalgamation.
In another place, (Vol. IV., page 226,) he alludes to the manifold analogies
which some meteoric stones present as rocks, with the older so-called trap
Both Beila's and Encke's comets pass round the sun from west to
rocks.
If a
body
is
The
planets
revolving,
all
rotary disturbance, the detached portion will continue to revolve in the same
Great Facts of
direction -with equal velocity
and
Modem
Astronomy.
15
if
are revolving in
the same direction, and become united without rotary disturbance, they will
to the
same height, or
it is
and yet
raise
lesser
is
may be absorbed
in
developing heat,
is
precisely
at the conjunction of
curved lines
collision,
thrown into
heat,
same direction
mean
conjunction of masses
after conjunction,
inter-
velocity not greatly varying, the larger planets maintaining their veloci-
one plane
The
ties better
the motions of
and the materials composing the crust of the earth, all give their
and clearest manner as to the action of rotary
motion and centrifugal force, and as to the effect of rotary motion being
caused by the conjunction of two spheres being made on curved lines the
fact that the binary stars are so numerous must be considered sufficient
proof, for by what other known mode of action can such motions be
trap-rocks,
produced
The
viii.
it is
much
a lawT at
"
No
sion,
account a priori, or
which
is
from
system"
Dr. Olbers conjectured that the asteroids were the fragments of an exploded
planet, whereas they, with the remaining comets, are all that is left incom-
numbering
Future generations
may
now
During
the aggregation of masses round a central power, the masses will naturally
range themselves in receding from that centre, each one about double the
distance of the one preceding
power diminishes
it
the planetary masses for each other remains the same, with equal masses at
16
equal distances, therefore every time the distance from the central body
is
doubled, the mutual attraction of the masses for each other becomes rela-
power of the
central body,
former are moving in eccentric orbits and brought into near proximity, not
being sufficiently restrained, they will continue to aggregate until the distance of the masses being also about double the restraining superiority of
power
the central
is
The
restored.
of the satellites of
relative positions
Jupiter indicate that they were formed by the same process from millions of
moving
debris
The
eccentric orbits
in
To be
planets of
perfect equilibrium,
all in
they should be exactly double the distance in receding from the sun, and
But
the
There
distances.
dis-
therefore, great
are,
is
differences
less deflected
from
in their
its orbit,
stability.
with equal
power, than any other planet in our system, and Neptune would be most
deflected
from his
and situated
Mercury would
latter
would
orbit.
deflect
would
true orbit
its
deflect
density,
Venus
deflect the
deflect
Mars
Yenus from
Mercury
deflect
and
latter
not understood.
It
is,
is
be explained on the aggregation theory; and this may, therefore, be considered as another proof of the correctness of the latter.
KWe
flood,
fire
and
planets were ground and assorted by the elements, compressed by the collisions,
fires
how
tending to the interior depths, and as constantly again being brought upon
the surface by the action of aggregation, and again subjected to the grinding
detrision of the elements.
rior construction
We may
of our planet.
also
It will
earth's
explain.
crust, ("
Humboldt remarks
Cosmos," Vol.
I.,
many
may
to the
other
phenomena otherwise
phenomena of the
respecting the
hope
to
It
remains
to
he
considered
There
a certain
to
hope.''''
when speaking of
of empirical knowledge, we
extent, to
17
The author of
rocks, (Vol. L,
is
any pumice
Humboldt,
New
and
islands, has
allusion
in
volcano
in the
to
Mauna Loa,
some
Islands,
From
In another place
the volcanoes
"
in
Sandwich
in the
and
it is
well deserving of notice, that in the long range of volcanoes whicli extend
from
:)
ocean to ocean, there are not two immediately succeeding each other which are of
Thus
or
been in a perfect
molten
core.
it
is made up of
would suggest that the earth cannot ever have
molten condition, and it by no means follows that it has a
by no means uniform
homogeneous
many
earlier period, as
A paper by
;
probable that
much
It is also
of the more ancient rocks were not formed on the earth, but at a
Equator at 86
of the
55'
Fahren-
and
One square
foot exposed to a
from 23 to 34 times.
States,
and
fall
about
Several occurred in
21-^
will
United
fire
arid
one
fell,
therefore,
be
3
assumed
that
when
our
earth,
during
the
aggregation
18
Modem
Great Facts of
of comets and
of millions
was
earth,)
calculation
(by
asteriods,
G, 816, 262
containing
at a very elevated
Astronomy.
spherical
temperature on
its
would
it
miles,
to
require
form
our
was cooling the radiation of heat from the upper surface of the
atmosphere would precipitate tbe most tremendous storms of rain as high,
ages
it
During
frequently
accompanied by cyclones
light of
would be enveloped
the deep, dense, cloudy atmosphere, and the lurid glare of the numerous volcanic eruptions
would impart
to the night
an aspect of
terrific
As
grandeur.
the ages rolled on the surface of the earth and the waters became cooler by the
The
first
living organisms,
fitting
and vegetation
commenced
also
is
heat from the interior almost equal the radiation through a long period of
time, thus preserving a heated temperature in the waters
and
Immense quantities of minute marine shell fish also conmake up the strata, the ever-restless waters and other elements
grinding the materials therefor.
The frequent and sudden
constitution.
tribute to
ceaselessly
ultra-mundane sources.
In
warm and
many
of
course
the
all
favorable locations.
These again
strata,
the vegeta-
of the period consisted of a gieat variety of ferns, conifera, palms, and other
species, about 400 in
page 280
"
all,
In order
to
and of
I.,
the
and converted
teas
1 would instance the Sarbrucker coal measures, where 120 beds are superposed on
many
whicli are
the
aerolite
chemical elements of
less
two per
broke up in water.
oerolites
consist
According to Humboldt,
of
According
the
same
no
to Ber-
as
those
viz.,
iron,
nickel, cobalt,
copper, arsenic,
10
potash,
zinc,
all
soda,
known
the
fall
is
very numerous
is
earth
is
its
own.
The
it
was aggregated
as
its
primary.
an indepen-
orbit
it in
it
favorable disposition
its course,
and a
favorable disposition of the interior planets has increased the recoil, and
it
has fallen in front of and crossed the Earth's path, within the Earth's attraction,
ted proportionally
Earth in
moved
its course.
Its
their
on,
mutual
and the
attractions,
commenced
satellite
attraction
on
its
is
from west to
east, like
The
one-eightieth of
accelera-
accompany the
to
It
is
its
density 0.619
revolved on
it
its
axis
same description of materials as the earth, and has water and an atmosphere
and from its appearance it has had seas. If we take it into consideration its
density,
and assume
it
to be
as the earth,
it
and
becomes
reasonable to supj^ose
gases of the
consist
As the
the water and the atmosphere would pass into the inside.
the crust
it3
vast caverns
is
may
still
retain a
life.
might even be better than our Polar regions for intelligent beings and if
the enclosed waters occupy the central area, which is quite probable, then
there would be a tide every revolution passing backwards and forwards
It
make
it settle
20
it
to ever
for storms,
and
its
Humboldt,
strata.
so
there
would be no
myth
does
it
too small
It is
page 114,
boasted
came into
they
the country
the
before
moon accompanied
a series' of passages
ancients
upon the
" In the
May seas
New
and in another
subject,
Continent there
is,
upon
the
of a great flood,"
World have a
similar tradition.
earth.
etc.
the tradition
MIn
the
great discovery, the mechanical equivalent of heat, and about the same
time I saw, in Ennis's Origin of the Stars, that Mayer had the honor of
The
first
sug-
rotary motion by
a vertical sun, on a bright, clear day, within the tropics, indicated 125, with
this data
of the
sun to the earth, and intersecting the corners of a square foot upon the sun's
surface
double the distance from the centre these lines will enclose 4
at
square feet
3x3
= 9 square
feet. It will
be manifest
that the temperature will decrease inversely as the squares of the distances,
therefore
it
will then be only one-ninth the temperature of the sun at the dis-
and 214.G5 2
radii,
pounds
If
===
46,074
therefore,
the earth
times
46,074
is
is
125,
we now multiply
number of
terrestrial
According
is
pound
falling
pound of water
1 degree Fahrenheit.
its
pere-
helion passage, approached within, one-sixth of the -sun's diameter from his
surface, or within 128,466 miles.
The
was estimated
Great Facts of
Modem
Astronomy.
21
at 344 miles in
it
moment
equal to the velocity of the comet above mentioned, or 2,704,074 feet per
second, as the same mass of matter will produce the same velocity whatever
If the mass of the comet
was one thousandth part of the sun, then the sun would approach toward
the comet 1 foot, while the comet approached toward the sun 999 feet and if
the masses were as one to four, then the one would move 200 feet and the
The density of the sun is to water as 1.37 to 1.
other 800 feet, and so on.
Then
is
just about
pounds
but one
2.704,07.1
tben
x27.9x
The
sun.
if
results will
Sir
5 .e3
result obtained
two
terrestrial
co x
we
allow
2:}-
be equal.
John Herschel,
at the
that a square foot of dark surface exposed to the sun's rays acquired heat at
;fecfc
is 1
= 230,370
By
foot of sun
units of heat
calculation, this
of the sun, a mass equal to 781,945,768 cubic feet of molten matter, heated
iron,
By
calculation,
foot con-
at 230,370 units
sarily obliged to
MTwo
it
1 Fahrenheit,
by eminent mathemati-
cians, viz.
consist of matter in
endowed with
all
attractive
and repulsive
forces,
velocity,
are
more obscure.
it
is
elabo-
Great Facts of
22
Modern Astronomy.
as follows
subtle,
among them,
freely
That an excessive
and having
inertia,
by the most
in.
vibratory motion
which
is
rare,
like waves,
space,
all
it
Each of
is
propagation of sound.
as air, gases, fluids,
pressed more or
would appear,
air.
Air, unless
less, as in
com-
and
it
therefore,
it
favor of the undulatory theory, that the enormous waste resulting from the
corpuscular theory,
viz.
The
1,
it
is
It
is
effect
must have a
as the other.
cause,
the result
and
as
In either theory
We know
affects
urged as inconsistent
diameter of the
is,
therefore, as
much
lost
by one theory
see
shooting stars per hour, and assuming each person capable of watching one
miles, or an area ten miles square, it
hundred square
400,000
each,
it
1,
very large
proportion of these must reach the sun, and striking with the velocity due to
that all-absorbing power,
would
When
regions of our atmosphere they burst into a small but brilliant light, but
striking the dense, heated atmosphere of the sun with the
when
immense velocity of
indeed as we see
it.
fuel, in
first
fuel.
make poor
23
mere
fuel,
the effect
According
to
first
we
indicated
derful dark lines in the solar spectrum, which, like a messenger from the
stars,
to Fraunhofer, a
tion, that
long considera-
when incandescent,
is
To
dark double
line
D.
sodium
prism and
the
Drummond
We
moncVs light
tee
which
to
consists
it is
line is
line,
Fraunhofer 's
fame
a soda
light
becomes
"The
and
further says:
UneD,
is
a dark double
be placed,
line
Drum-
use sunlight through the sodium flame, ice see that the line
much more
distinct than
is
The sodium
employed.
it
emits; hence
sodium, and the light from iron or any other metal combines with and absorbs
the light from iron, &c, and so on with other metals and
elements.''
is
all
the primitive
now
will
'<
that the other lines which, presents themselves in the spectra of nitrogen
way
should have
to us, ice
to
and hydro-
from
theoretical considerations by
Cheseaux,
would
longest resist
extinction at
and
to
icas
Further,
far as
respects their
power of pro-
this absorptive
least,
so
24
Great Facts of
property of space
is
not elective in
its
Modem
Astrofbomy.
so,
on
light
gilrility?'
three eminent men, that possibly space posseses the quality of absorbing light of
every degree ; a
demon-
strate presently.
I again quote
flames by Sir
is
also
remarkable
but
little
while, if
(I
consequence.
in.
Thus, a particle of
of calcium, by
for a
119),
its
he
itself sensibly
diminished.)
the poles of an electric battery consist of two different metals, the spectrum
compound
Hence
became of
it
interest to see
whether
of both
lines
occurrence of
correct.
required
who
first
declared that the electric spark consists solely of the material parti-
explained to
which
it
material,
visible,
and
it
passes.
This
may
therefore light
it
be
it
renders
mean
On page
is
ii
is
it is
which can be
lithium,
lows
one
calcium, one-millionth
part of a grain.
"
Now
And
at
page
the sodium
is
G7, in illus-
very nearly
burnt out, and the lithium will soon disappear, whereas the green bands,
produced by the
less volatile
for a greater
length of time.
tion of matter in
Indeed,
matter.
25
it
actinic or chemical
appears contrary to
power can
scientific
all
consump-
is
light is
exist in
of actual matter.
YTTT
Chemical
Cosmos, Vol
affinity is a
I.,
its
return
remarkable fact-
has been discovered that these periods have diminished in the most regular manner
between the years 1788 and 1888, the diminution amounting in the course of 53
years
to
The attempt
to
tangential force,
and with
exists,
resisting
medium.
major axis of
it the
"
The value of
and he adds
may perhaps be
and
directly
to the
We
and
known
It is well
from the sun, both in approaching and in receding from that body.
flowing from the sun upon the extremely attenuated matter of the comet's
Sir
tail.
tails
ing in the direction towards the region which the comet has
objects,
with
little
or
no
tail
their course.
Sir
their appearance
but
left,
as if moving-
and slow-moving
and throw
out from the head this appendage, which increases in length and brightness
till
side,
and not
all their
first
till
rapid,
then, that
length and development; thus indicating plainly the action of the sun's rays
as the exciting cause of that extraordinary emanation."
The
tail
its
perehelion passage,
(in Herschel's
opinion) of
its
26
It will
ing in
is
all
to
which a stream of
would produce,
light, flow-
by the
as also observed
light
regard the fact of Encke's comet being retarded as proof of the universal
existence of the ether-filling space.
be observed that Humboldt makes the significant remark that the value
It will
Now
perehelion.
staff, if
the
is
every schoolboy
will
go
propels
when
it
receding.
it
all directions,
which
Thus
resists the
going with
if
some of the
Upon
flagstaff.
stream of light
is
flowing
will restore
the
first,
after
to a flag-
resistance is as the
lost velocity
by propulsion, on account
all,
as the propelling
power
will then
and the
and manifestly
of comets
tail,
fly
The
tails
Seneca observes
of comets are
first
"The
formed
on the side nearest the sun, being produced, as generally supposed, by the
intense heat
steam a short distance toward the sun, and then driven back as by the action
of a strong wind, and this action of a comet's
tail
involved
it
minute portion
-A.X
this
by
second
60, to
bring
this,
it
equivalent in pounds,
its
an exceedingly
all
matter, as
magnetism, or power.
earths, while
is
VTTT
and
into minutes,
it
multiplied by 6,086, or
would stand
00000001272 x 700
as follows
78,611,554, or
re>61I|BM
part of a pound,
Great Facts of
Modem
27
Astronomy.
this multiplied
therefore
a ray of light, if
it
develops one
unit of heat per minute, with a velocity of 106,196 miles per second
part of a pound, or
^,Urei
~T = 000089 = ,i of a grain.
= 46,074
square feet, and the sun beam enclosed will weigh 169 grains terrestrial,
emanating every 8i minutes, or 20.51 gmins per minute from each square
foot of the sun's surface..
I find in
By
for January,
which gives
calculation, one
grain of solid matter falling into the sun from space, with the velocity of the
would give 4,522 times the heat proas fuel, or one pound
would be equal to over two tons of coal used in the most efficient manner
hence the wonderful energy of solar heat and light. It must be remembered
that the solar fire can have no ashes and debris everything is converted into
light and heat by the most perfect of combustion, as in that condition only
can anything become dissipated into space, where in the silent regions of cold
and darkness atom attracts atom by absorption, and the apparent waste of
light and heat becomes again formed into light flakes of solid matter, such
as constitute the so-called shooting stars, and commence again their journey
towards one of the numerous suns which gem the heavens, and thus we have
good' reason to believe each sun is maintained in its glory and splendor
waste, no loss of power or material and, like all the mechanism of the Great
comet of 1680,
as calculated before,
its
operation, stupendous,
and sublime.
~\T
J\.
T7 We
will
velocity. It will
when
equal to the sun, and which approached each other with a united velocity of
444 miles per second, on lines tangential to each other or ultra tangential, would
have a rotative velocity at least equal to one revolution in one-and-a-half
hours
throw
and
system.
half days
velocity.
it
should, therefore,
off
in twenty-five and-a-
some cause
off
quantity
'28
we remove
will be evident if
781,945,708 cubic
is
it
feet.
It
with an
by calculation this would require at the rate of 20.51 grains per minute
21,711,705 years; and to reduce the velocity from one revolution in one and
find
similar
In this case
is
produced by
rotative rotation,
this quantity
72
ence
earth's volume, or
that the material forming the earth and planets was thrown from the
is,
sun before
it
had time
to attain the
sun.
calculation, I find
is
a cause
which
planets
would be
during
greatest
very deep
estimated at probably
tioned,
vi z .
several
denly
rise
is
may
cool.
By
it
~Y"\7"T
jX.
conc l us i n
than
part of our
seoVo
man
our world
is
is
is
fire,
water.
is
Of the whole
a mere spark thrown from the sun, as a small ball one inch
we
are circling
immense globe of
this
fire
intellect fashions
by aggregation.
There
destroyed
and there
is
is
stars.
is
in store for ou
srin
and planets
29
never finding
or] shorter
it
The
everything
periods of time.
is
universe of matter
is
is
fact of por-
Our
in
in
and
longer
obedience to
the eternal laws of creation, again pass through the fiery ordeal of destruction
future world
may
discover some slight remains burnt into and forming part of the rocks of an
anterior period,
which he
living organism,
whose history
formed a part of a
shadowy records
The
The records of
all
From
the vaulted
They
its
dome
of
thousand wonders
forth, in mystic
light
language bright
tell
man commenced
'Ere
and grand
Upon
Flashes
Of
their
wondrous adaptation
Each
Each
tree
and
and
flower, that
wind and
rain,
To Thee, O
To
is
profound.
trace each
Thine
infinite
atom
in its course,
the power alone to frame the laws which shape each form,
The wisdom
The mighty
Subject to
Thy benign
And through
rule,
and to adorn.
moment
its
place
of each hour,
APPENDIX
A
few days
after placing
my
to
my
own, in order
my
reply,
which explains
S.
J.,
HENSON.
May
24, 1871.
must be
It
little
human
we
life as
its different
find
them on our
I. can vouch
Yours
S.
you imparted
gravity,
Much more
earth.
to
me
was inhabited
To Wm.
itself.
Roseville, Newark, N.
Sir
keep
to
whom
WM.
Dear
I
1 '
where
arranged for
easily
to the
your views
inside,
same purpose
for, if necessary.
HORATIO
truly,
T.
HEWITT.
Hen son,
Roseville, N. J.
***
trations
566 Orange
street,
Newark,
New
Jersey, to
whom
all
Wm.
S.
Henson,
453 92
v*v
rr&^&^-'fev
W
7
TA6*
4s
ov
**#