Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1838-01-04
AN ORIGINAL VIEW OF THE
MECHANISM OF THE
SOLAR SYSTEM,
BY ROBERT NEWMAN.
OF Romuey, Va.
or Romuey, Va

This work will be ready for publ
cation by the first Of July 1898, with
the requisite diagrams. The author
hopes that liberal patronage will be
extended TO him for this effort to present
to the learned in the science of Astrono-
my, system founded on FACTS, as they
really exist in this separate and distinct
field of creation. The whole scheme is
original and belongs exclusively to the
author. Means will be adopted this win
ter with view to ascertain how far the
public will patronise such an under,n.
king. Some Of his views have already
been published, but in manner too
detached to be at all satisfac,ory-the
object Of such publications being to as
certain what objections might probably
be suggested by others. The author
hopes, also, that this notice will be given
place in such papers as are friendly TO
the progress ofthe sciences; and although
he may fail in many particulars, one
thing is certain, he will give new i'm
pulse to astronomical enquiry. He will
show that the matheniaticians are great
ly in error as to the probable distances
ofthe planets from the sun, their unequal
velocity in their paths, the forces BY
which they are sustained in their places,
and the vast importance of the planetary
SATELLITES to animated nature, as i,
exists on this Globe, and on all other
Globes where quick SUGGESTIONS Of day
and night are required. For this purpose
Quick rotatory notion were the moons
given TO the planets P1imarily-their
other uses are secondary only.
If we had no moon, we would be in
volved oDe-halfthe year in darkness and
the other half suffering under the full
and uninterrupted blaze of the sun. He
will show, also. how and through what
instrumentality the planets disturb each
other in their courses, and why their
orbits are eliptlcal or appear 20 be so.
To settle the question conclusively as
TO the true relative distances of all the
planets from the san nothing more will
be required than the true distance Of the
moon. from the earth IF 1T GAN BE Or
TANNED. The author, therefore. requests
the attention OF American mathematicians
to this question particularly. and previ>
ously to the publication here proposed.
The results of any means used to obtain
her true distance will be gladly received.
and il no such results are communicated
the anthor will assume her distance to
be 210. 900 miles. the greatest distance
heretofore given by the ma;hematicians.
1t will then be found that the distances
of the planets from the sun will be
greatly diminished, however discordant
it may seem 10 be to minds accustomed
to place them at the distances they are
now placed from that body. The au-
thor is fully aware Of the difficulties and
magnitude of his pursuit, but looks for
ward CONFIDENTLY that the philosoph her
will rightly appreciate even failure
in SO great an undertaking. To encoun
ter the PHYSICAL VIEWS of such men as
a Newton aud La Place, will, to many
no doubt, appear presumptuous and idle;
but the author, notwithstanding, con-
siders it his duty to persevere. The
powers of magnetism seem now to be
engaging the attention of the philosopher,
and that power has been recently APP
piled to machinery. and why not ap-
piled by the Great Creator in ordering
and organizing the machinery of the
Universe?