New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-01-31

necied and will be found 10 revove round their
great centre IN correct courses. The motions and
periods Cf some Of these have also been ascertain
ed. Sometimes find the three Stars moving
around common centre al other times two OF the
Stars are found moving round the third their
tre You must recoect that these are combinations
OF suns not OF which inferior 70 own great
luminary.
Beside these. We have other combinations o, four
stars There IS very beautiful one OF this kind N
the Constella alton OF the Tyre. When We look az
bright star in that constellation, Il has very pecu
liar aspect. IL is round and distinct as stars
usually are. On applying the telescope We lmme-
diatey ind the cause Of this strange appearance
IL turns out 70 be not star but four stars bound
together. whose movements are very extrsorGi-
nary. W e ind that each tao stars constitute
double star-a ~ stem Of themselves-and then the
two systems reyOlve around a common center
How complex and extraordinary indeed must be
the mechanism that sustains System like this
We have boastsd Of our mathematics Of their &C.
cgracy OF their vast and varied powers. but when
We reflect that Il taxes them to the utmost to fol-
low the comparatively simple movements that take
place within own Solar System. how useless to
attempt TO apply them 70 unwind the mechanism
OF Systems like these, every one Of which is prob.
ably surrounded by It's own System Of Planets -
Great applause | should mention. with respcc,
u this fouriod System in the Constellation OF the
: Tyre, that the periods occupied by one Of these
Systems cannot be less than thousand years, AMI
the other is about twice that and the period beiore
the whole system returns n It's original state d.
not less than a million OF years. But that period
/ is small indeed, compared with some that | shall
bring under your notice.
The grand fact then Is established beyond
doubt this, in so far as We find minor groups withn
our galaxy, We discern mechanism and change. and
we may venture 10 apply the same conjecture % still
greater masses, but before entering upon that
,rander subject. there are a few points 10 which
mo In md AT
has been elected by our observations upon these
double stars il. that tile law sustaining these
wonderful aechansIas is the same that sustans our
own system the Law Of gravitation discovered by
/ Newton. Those iarofi suns are moving around IN
their mighty orbits in obedience 70 that simple law
which causes the apple to fall to the ground they
wheel around their common centers OF gravity IN
precisely the same curves in which our planets
move
There is curious physical fact also connected
with these double stars Generally speaking, We
find that the two stars exhibit different colors Z
find them exhibiting the colors OF the two extremes
OF the spectrum commonly called the complement
tary colors
The audience must be aware that the ray o.
white light which we receive from the sun is com
posed ol number ct different co0rs which are
blended together in his beam. Ina the case oil these
double stars, however. we find one shining with a
red light while the other has exclusively blue
i
there be such attached to these variegated Suns
! now bssking under the blended light of both which
I would constitute a white light at Other times hsv-
ing only red sun above the horizon, and az others
being Illuminated by the blue one. II one consii-
ers how much OF the characters OF the iiylug liant
lies on the earth is dependent on the action oil the
sun IL will be difficult 10 conceive the endless va
rieties which must prevail among bodies subjected
/ u 80 singular Influences
Returning, however. 70 the principal subject. =
lind Il u be the character OF the minor groups Will
/ In our galaxy 10 exhibit systematic independ'
ence Of their constituents and consequent mechan-
/ ism aud motions. And now raising our thoughts
somewhat higher, looking over the whole Stellar
/ Universe what are those mighty ornaments,
/ those gorgeous systems lying apart IN Space
/ except special groups in regard OF the great
/ all. Is it not likely, then, that what we have
] learned OF the minor forms may also characterize
the larger ones That just as the tourold group n
Lyra or as proudly in the Pleads, even the multi
tldes OF spherical clusters or those mere irregular
ones are also united into separate schemes inter
nailv consistent by their self contained actiyi
ties The question is far too WIDE 10 admit OF .
decisive answer. but something OF confirmation
may vet be obtained from what is elsewhere goiDA
on around u.s. III the law OF the minor ,roups can bs
extended to those mghter coocatous we ought
evidently to lind activity prevailing also among The
single suns, and of those our own orb IS what
| we know best this will probably be easiest estab
fshed by observing whether our sun Is nxeu III que
portion of space is passing onward through some
| great course
| The question that arises then is this: Is our Sun
in motion II our old idea that the whole planetary
system is simply lying apart 10 one nook OF space
correct or the contrary is our sun passing with
! his whole attendance OF planets through som,
mighty career in the heavens This latter idea
/ has been long entertained. IL was however 10 The
| illustrious Herschel-to whom have had occasion
50 often 10 reier-that we owe the confirmation 81
/ this great truth. His idea was this, and you VII
see at once that bis mode oflightlDg upon the grea
| fact was remarkably simple He sald II our sur
! is ia notion how shall We ascertain the fact w Z
/ can not ascertain il by the motion OF the Sun him
| self becau we, partakng OF his motion, would not
have il in our power TO ascertain that motion mas
| much as We are going on in the same path. The
| ony mode by which il could be deduced this
| IL the sun were moving through the heavens, the
stars around him would seem 10 be altering then
| position Suppose for instance, ~ illustrate Her
sches idea that there is cluster Of trees before
/ me and another cluster behind me. Now il were
/ % move from one toward tho other, the cluster
| which | approach would seem 10 be opening mp
while the cluster from which was departing woal
seem 10 be undergoing the opposite Oh ange-cosine
in. Now, Herschel, upon comparing the positions oi
the stars with their positions as laid down In the D
catalogues discovered that Just exactly such changes
were going en- among them. In the direction OF the
conste alton Hercules the stars appeared to be open
ing out while the stars in the opposite part Of the
heavens seemed 70 be- getting closer to each other
Now. said he, l. not this all could expect 10 see 4
the sun was actually moving through the heavens
| Accordingly be Was daring enough 70 infer thai
this was the tnd he said our great san II NOV
ing on with all his satellites toward the constela'
ton Hercules Again he said lift be true that the
Sun ssweepng through space, then II will be found
that the stars in all parts Of the heavens are chang
ing not merely those in the region toward which
\ the Sun Is moving and from which he IS departing.
but sideways over all the heavens will distinct
changes among the stars be apparent To Illus
trate again. Suppose tor instance That was NOV
Jog through this room AL the objects in IT, ON either
side Of me, would appear 70 be moving backward.
| so has IL been found 10 be with regard u the
whole mass Of the stars. They all present the phe'
nomena as if they were being passed % the sun.
Since Herschels time these motions have been
scanned with the utmost precision, and his conJec'
ture has been most thoroughly confirmed There
cannot, thea be doubt that our great sun, carry
| ing all his planets with him, IA sweeping In Il
mighty cycle through the skies Applause
These general considerations, however, have re.
ference only TO the general direction ADD motion Of
the Sun which is probably enough for the purpose
! I - ;r,,,sJi.fafv IN yiavy but curiosity Will de-