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 TO 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 paraleX, or variation OF Po-
sition of some of the nearest of the liked
stars. He has discovered that two lines
drawn from the earth and the sun, to a
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 mill
| 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 to the mind, and astronomers ac-
cordingly resort TO particular cxpedlents,
as it were, TO 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 rapidity 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 TO 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 it is demonstrated with
a degree of precision which science can
: 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 q clock. Now
1t IS evident TO the most superficial obSer-
yer that the stars differ considerably in
brightness and magnitude, and for the sake
| ed them in classes according to their ap-
pearance; thus there are 20 which arc
! brighter than any Of the others, and these
are called stars of the first magnitude;
there are 80 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 ll00.-
: But this difference is apparent only and
e not real; it by no means determines the
} relative size Of the stars. We can only
| infer that the brightest and largest arc on
1 ly brighter and larger, becaue they arc
# nearer than those with which we compare
: them. We owe TO the careful iuyestiga
n ton and experiments of Mr.. Herschel
J. the son of Sir John Herschel, the dis
e covery of the distance of the smaller stars
o or those of the seventh magnitude III
g has been able TO ascertain that the dis
). lance of the smallest star which we col
e discern by the unassisted eve, is II time
f farther off than the brightest or neares
?. star. Thus by the same reasoning as be
ofI fore, we find that the distance is so grea
e that light in travelling from these stars |,
J. the earth, at the rate before mentione
W would occupy a period of 100 years!-
n Such is then the marvellous range of hu
,e man vision; and thus we fnd that that ltd
t. organ the eye, so delicately and wonder
4. fully constructed. is capable of penetratin
,e into space a distance so immense tina
re light travelling at the rate of 900 90
le miles between two ticks of a clock, woul
e occupy period of 100 years in reachn
d. us. Such is the extent OF human vision
:. We have in our discourse thus far, onl
10 said where these stars are. The quet
% ton necessarily arises-what are theyf-
lie Are they globes like unto the earth, pro
ne vided with means and expedienis for Ii
#. existence of creatures like ourselves, SUI
tn piled with the light and heat of the sun,
". are they not rather like the sun, fountain
th of light and warmth of globes innumer;
J.. BILE even in Imagination, revolving aroun
if them? 1t was, indeed, bold and DARN
ne inquiry TO ascertain the character of Ii
ne fixed stars, but it was one witch was al
I'd dertaken with signal success; and we ow
ct to the great and noble mind of one, WI
tn has since departed to another and be
nd ter sphere, the satisfactory result of tn
i. momentous question: allude to the |;
he mented Dir. Wollaston. We know that a
IN orb shining with reflected light, at
of great distance as we find the fixed sta
,st to be, could not be seen by US. They Al
er then native fountains of light and hea
!, other cuns ike orr own VARYING in mr.