Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-02-18

II this vast asscmblagc of starry systems bo
found 10 be no more than single ncbulaI OF
which several thousand perhaps even MEIER
IN stars, have already been discovered and
that II bears no more proportion TO whole sid
eral heavens, than small dusky speck which
our telescopes enable US to descry Such is
the ptesen, theory, and ii is founded on most
elaborate observations by the first astronomers
of modern times.
And here calculation is entertained a. TO
the extent of what may in one sepse be called
the uIsiJic universe. There have been more
than 5000 of these nebul'r already discovered.
Surprising the number of stars which compose
the Milky Way 10 I've only ten millions, (half
the number formerly stately and that each of
the nebule, at an average, contains the same
number; supposing farther, that only two thou
sand of the three thousand nebule are resuly
able into stars, and that the other thousand are
masses of shining fluid, not yet condensed
by the fiat of the Almighty into luminous globes
the number OF stars or suns comprchended
in that portion of the armament which is with
in the reach of our telescopes would be co.
000,000,0 900, which is twenty millions oftlmes
the number OF all the stars which are visible
to the naked eye
Still our philosopher suggests, even these
assembages of systems may be but as a sin
gle nebula to the whole visible armament, or
even as grain of sand to the whole earth,
compared with the invisible universe beyond
Speaking OF what was called the planetary
nebuln which are round, compact bodies, like
! planetary disks, when viewed through tcles-
cope, Herschel mentions one in the constella-
| ton of Andromeda, that would more than ill
the whole orbit of Uranus" which is three
thousand six hundred millions of miles in di
! ameter. Such body would therefore con
tain 2i429,05l 500 200, 900 900, 900 900, 900
| or more than twenty -four quartlllions OF solit
miles, which is sixty eight thousand four hun
| dred millions of times larger than the cubica
contents of the Sun Hundreds of these ne
bulm have never been resolved into stars
Some are thought to be luminous matter in the
process of condensing. One of these in thu
Sword of Orion, is computed to be $500, 900,
600, 200, 100000 times larger than our SUM-
All these may be supposed to be advancing Il
the formation of new systems for replenlshnp
the voids of space, and displaying the Crca
tors glory.
The motions of this universe are the subjects
of concluding hint Nothing in nature i
quicscent. Every thing goes in its stated OF
bit. And the rate of these motions, in ever
known instance, is not less than several thou
sands of miles every hour, and, IN some instan
ces, thousands of miles every minute. IN
liked stars, though 10 4 common observer 'ic
at.rea- as.-iy i's .i.o f''s'tions with no
gard to each other, are found in some instan
ces, to have motions far more rapid than thos
of any of the planetary globes, though thei
magnitude is immensely superior The sta
sixty-one Cygni, whose apparent motion is
seconds annually-and consequently altogetli
er imperceptible TO common observer-ye
at the distance at which this star is known +
be placed, this motion is equivalent TO on
r hundred and twenty billions of miles ever
year, or three hundred and twenty ,housan
r millions every day.
Such, modestly remarks the Doctor, are
"few rude ideas respecting the Universe" A
these objects, however, do not constitute tn
Universe. They are detached parts oft, an
may pc as nothing TO the whole Ofthis whole
man probably may never be able TO form cor
cep,on. The highest created intellect ma
not. To God only does it seem likely to b
known.--JOur. Of Com.