Mississippi Democrat. (Carrollton, Miss.) 1844-18??, 1845-01-29

the earth did no: actually move at all -
And with this discovery, we begin to mea-
sure ourselves by more CONSTANT STAN
dard of our importance, and 10 think that
there were greater objects than ourselves
in the universe. Within the last two or
three years, however, the original difficult
ty in this observation has been successful
ly surmounted. Professor -, by sc.
ries of careful and accurate examinations
made upon the methed we have explained,
at intervals of six months, has been able to
ascertain the parallex, or variation of po-
sition of some of the nearest of the fixed
stars. He has discovered that two lines
drawn from the earth and the sun, 10
particular star, would subtend an angle of
about one second, indicating the distance
of the star to be 100000 times greater
than that of the earth from the sun. Now
the distance of the earth from the sun is
l00,000,000 of miles, which, multiplied
by 100000, gives us the enormous, the
overwhelming sum of sixty millions Of mil
lions of miles, Such is the vast extent of
the chasm which separates our system from
: the rest of creation. But figures become
under these circumstances, unwieldly and
onerous 10 the mind, and astronomers &C.
cordingly resort 10 particular oxpedents,
as il were, 10 bolster up the convictions
with which their discoveries tax the credu-
lily of human nature. Now, light moves
through space exactly as sound moves
through the air, the difference being in
the rapidly of motion. 1t has been prov
ed with accuracy by photometrical obser-
walton, that light moves at the rate Of
100000 miles In a second of time. The
distance of the star referred 10 is sixty
millions Of millions of miles. Then light,
travelling at the rate Of 100000 miles be-
tween two ticks of a clock, would take
about ten years to reach our system from
that star. So that il is demonstrated with
degree of precision which science can
F not doubt, that the nearest of the fixed
stars is separated from US by Journey
Of 10 years, could we travel the interyen-
ing space at the rate of 100000 miles
between every two ticks of clock, Now
it is evident TO the most superficial obser-
yer that the stars differ considerably in
brightness and magnitude, and for the sake
of convenience, astronomers have arrang.
ed them in classes according to their ap.
. pearance; thus there are 90 which are
/ brighter than any of the others, and these
are called stars of the first magnitude;
there are so or 60 of a little less degree
of brightness which are called stars of the
second magnitude; there are between two
and three hundred Of the third magnitude,
and so on to the seventh magnitude, which
are the least bright and perceptible, and Of
which there are registered about 100. =
But this difference is apparent only and
not real; it by no means determines the
relative size Of the stars. We can only
infer that the brightest and largest are on
Iy brighter and larger, becaue they are
nearer than those with which we compare
them. We owe TO the careful inyestiga-
ton and experiments of Mr.. Hersche,
the son of Sir John Herschel, the dis
covery Of the distance of the smaller stars,
or those of the seventh magnitude. He
has been able to ascertain that the dis
lance Of the smallest star which VIC can
discern by the unassisted eye, is IL times
farther of than the brightest or nearest
star. Thus by the same reasoning as be-
/ fore, we find that the distance is SO great
that light in travelling from these stars to
the earth, at the rate before mentioned
would occupy a period of 100 years =
Such is then the marvellous range of hu.
man vision; and thus we find that that little
organ the eye, so delicately and wonder
fully constructed. is capable of penetrating
into space distance so immense that
light travelling at the rate Of 100000
miles between two ticks of a clock, would
occupy period of l20yca in reaching
us. Such is the extent Of human vision.
| We have in our discourse thus far, only
said where these stars are. The ques
ton necessarily arises-what are they p
| Are they globes like unto the earth, pro.
vided with means and expedients Tor the
existence of creatures like ourselves, sup
piled with the light and heat Of the sun, or
are they not rather like the sun, fountains
Of light and warmth of globes innumera-
BILE even in imagination, revolving around
them 7 1t was, indeed, bold and daring
inquiry TO ascertain the character Of the
fixed stars, but it was one witch was I'M
dertaken with signal success; and we owe
TO the great and noble mind of one, who
has since departed TO another and bet
ter sphere, the satisfactory result Of this
momentous question--I aIude to the la.
mented Dr. Wollaston. We know that an
orb shining with reflected light, at so
great distance as we find the fixed stars
10 be, could not be seen by US. They are
then naive fountains of light and heat,
other suns like our own, varying in pro-
portion, not in character. The next in
quiry is, what proportion do they bear to
oursl What is the numerical proportion
n q = = :.