New-York tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1841-1842, 1841-12-28
For The Tribun.

For TIE Tribune
The DISTANCE OF THE SrARs-DR. LAnDNER's
LEcrUKEs.-Dr. LARDNsR, in recent Lecture
uson the Fixed Stars In speaking of their distance
stated 10 his audience that the method by winch
the distance OF the other celestial bodies was de-
termined, failed when applied to these remote
orbs all that astronomers were able to affirm was,
that they were nor nearer than 20 900 900 coo, 900
niles but how much farther removed than tha
they were, ne one could tell
Late discoveries in astronomy carry Us beyond
tas limit herer sisned 10 human knowledge; either
Dr. u cannot haze acquainted himself w;h diem,
rl.ol i, Lighy implobabi4, IN consideration OF hls
distinguished scenliic at,ainmests or he disuusts
tas ba,i, upon which tine, u,e founded, which Is no
less improbable IS they haze already received the
s,acuon of Tie most distinguished astronomers Of
tie ace.
The Parallax Of the S.ars has for a long time
engaged the attention Of rhe scientific world, and
has been sought after with all the ordor ttaf so 10
be an enterprise richly merits From the very
minute angle That bodies So remote must necessa-
niy mbtend, many have conended that, although
au angie MIST exist yet it snull even TO
submit measurement; while others have Us
boldly asserted sensible parallax Of several sec
oads. In 1885, Professor Bes.e, of Komgsberg,
oonmSncod "a -srias OF observations upon the dou-
Die Star, 81 Cygai, in order to set ut rest pcs
sibe, the long disputed question of stellar paral-
lax ewing 10 i number Of circumstances he was
unable 10 prosecute his observation, till lie year
1887, when, after fourteen months OF unwearlet
and close application, he announced the detcrmlna-
ton of para!iax. The instrument he used was
the celebrated Frauaholcr Heliometer, divided
with the greatest degree OF nicely that human skill
has vet attained. The complicated details Of this
discovery it is unnecessary to enter into, as they
may be found at largo in the records Of the Royal
Astronomical Society Of London, and other Seen
ufc Associations TO winch they were communica-
ted. The result, however, is as lollows; The Star
81 Cysni subtends the almost inconccivably mi
mule parallax of 1886 seconds, from which, by the
well known properties OF a triangle distance Of
62,SH,50O 100000 miles is deduccd.
Although one of the nearest of the fixed stars, it
now removed to twice the distance previously
assigned it. The mind cannot grasp such mighty
intervals of sPace-the attempt ends only in - com
Pgehensions, absolute defeat faint idea Of the
amazing distance may in measure be attained by
picturing to the imagination light, which, for all
ordinary purposes, is invested with an ins'antane-
velocity, which requires only eight minutes to
pass from the Sua TO planet consuming ten and
aquarter years in wiuging It's way from the Star
above mentioned to US SO that the rays OF light. by
which it is visible at any momen;, wor0 given oil
more than ten years before
The result Obtained by Professor Bc'sei rna! re-
quire some small corrections; vet it is generally
received as varying very little from the 'ruth--as
eonfcrring the highest hcnors upon the individual
that achieved it, and the century that gave it birth.