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

- csDs1 axs1 ~ - really ., bss ere eAsasisx
ssssr p'sen BY sasv md aiosss tnp>rcspsahle %
grsss. - thea II sbs ss1 two ossss "A yearv ,b-rr
q . nanif.sf psrallsx ansss thsn In lalsr sines.
aftss The ohserv sfioas Of other Astrusc0ers were
compared q became manifest thss there " a. scsrve
ly solitary aar IN the besvess sbsolstely fxed IA
position Bat Il this were tue inasmuch 90 the san
vas one u the hxed stars 10 Il not possible that II
700 70 sveepins thruash spscei THIS wssa wuo-
der'ui idea truly. Now this apparent change among
The liked stan might possibly be accounted kor apon
the hypothesis that the Sun swept through space
carrying the Earth and al the p sDets with IL and
mus caased these objects ~ change their apparent
places among each other. II this hy pothesls we're
adopted these objects which were moving met
rapidly would be among those nearest 10 as and
nost likely TO yield results
Again. he choose % select dosble star because
a he cOcld hnd set which was united IN partic
ulr ~sy. ne would be sele 81 measure xith more
accuracy the change that took place IN the center
~ the Inc ths, united the stars than in any other
gay tie selected iron the Constellation Of the
swan. 6oable star number 81 and commenced his
measures upon the position Of the center Of TIE line
joining the tso he referred the central point 20
h- Intersection VI this line 9th another perpebdc
sn u n. Here he had q fix point t. which with
the utmost possible prcris he and il practicable
" refer that point sscrrtsin whether any change
VA gong on. which shogld be dae 10 the motion 81
The tarth IN its orbit ear rolls rUond OF unin
teriniiied obseraiiCn Of the most accurate kind -
he forms bis series of places Do,es every sbieci.
and hnds " h,s infinite dehg there 10 yet certain
amount outstanding. which upon examination te
ponds upon the position occupied IN moving around
the Earth orbit He does DOT venture - announce
the discovery he waits Tall be has repeated these
experiments through the following year, and 20 ms
Inexpresso-e sstisfsc,lon be finds the same series
Occurring precisely IN the same order as before.
Night After nisht and mouth and after month be
watches this point and sssIn compares the cuupu
tstion Of the place and hnds the same changes IRE
cisey a. ia the preceding year Tie conclusion
could % longer be resisted the mighty quit had
been passed. the distance OF that object IS koown
and les psrsllsx is determined
And Dos how shall tel you the distance III
speak Of millions Of miles i only cunfuscs the
mind Let me use different unIt OF measure /
have already told you lat light hles with velocity
Of tw eve millions 1T miles IN q minute. Nov. then
ia order 20 reach from THIS star IN the C0rstcls
ton II the Sxsn. winch Ne suppose 20 be the one
nearest II must 10 It's fglt takr ten long yeas -
reach this planet Aud this - the nesress oi all
the fixed star, By which We are surrounded. lAp
ylsuse.
Here then is our unit of measure and 1t have
succeeded IN cail ing You 10 this pont our course
onward Is eAsy tor the moment we Know the de
lance II one of the liked stars we feel confident
bat we can attain 10 others and onward and
onward Indeed tins has been literally the case
since | reached your City have received inteili.
eence from Strive. that he has determined the par
ajax OF seven new stars Although ~e md differ
ences in these distances we have reason 70 believe
the average distance cannot be less than tina, Of
number oil m the swan.
80 soon. then, AZ We have ssccrtainet the sphere
which - described In order 10 resch the nearest oi
these bodies the question arises Are the stars
scattered squsl'y through all Spsce Is there suy
aggregation OF those united BY masses 10 there
sny law which governs these exceedingly distant
bodies 90 as 10 make clusters ia particular quatev
or regions OF Space tive look out upon the sky
the eye Is at once arrested by beautiful belt 81
hight that sweeps over the whole heavens called
the Milky Way. This on examination, We md
10 be studded with millions oi objects extending
entirely around. forming mighty zone ct couereea
ted stars which takes this peculiar figure. Let ~
attempt to snsly 70 this figure and see whether II
be posi- 10 reach the uttermost limits and Know
ureciscy the point by which II 10 circamscrbed
To ACCOMPLISH this we must make use ~ what 10
called the space penetrating power Al have !"
.ay nm this point will depend upon the manner 10
which | shall be able to tell you the meaning oi
that term for when We have measured the dis
lance OF the fixed stars e seems Impossible u 20
be, ond that distance accurately Vet II Is done
approximately by thus space penetrating power "'
the telescope.
1.-THE pupil OF the human eye couldbc expandedto
twice its present dimensions II would receive HEht
sufficient to enAblc 1t to penetrate t"irc as drep
into Space IL 10 found that II can now see a star
OF the sixth magnitude but this does not give an
exsrt idea oi the space penetrating power o. the
eve because the distances are not IN The cAH
ra,io t. tho amount OF light A star Oi Tie sAth
magnitude 10 twelve times more distant than one
ct the first The human eye ~ capable OF penetfa
TIM INTO Space twelve times as deep the line thal
inin. H. ~ the nearest fixed star II We could IA
crease the diameter of the pupil and make II tsire
as large. II would see tscnty tour times AZ Tar -
Now n we aid the eye by the telescope ~ may hr
.l..NI .Naf.a 4H4ssfE H..
relative spproximative po~eri answer ny the
diameter OF the pupil the Object, glass, OF the IN
strum~nt we can arrive at avery accurate measure
ment with regard IA that matter. Allow me mere
tomakc very familiar Illustration. suppose upon
level plane. indefinitely extended II would De
possibie to erect pets q mile apart Tn each Of
these posts vii place board which cSnts'n'
sentence IN given sized letter Nos the first one
IA inst visible 10 the eye 80 that II can be read al
III. distance Of one mile but ~ read the next ono 10
IMPOSSIBLE however provide myself v mn some
assistance | take atelesS'pe and md that with u
| can iu,t read the sentence written on the second
post take one with larger object glass Snd
read the third another larger still. and read the
fourth Thus Will always know the space pene
tratns power OF the instrument With which rcAd
any one Of the distances and here IL the pnnciple
itis in this way We are able to penetrate from one
IN another depth and 10 know what 10 the radius 81
the mighty sphere of which We are making an tx
animation.
Tn, first question 10 Whether II be possible TO
penetrate through the depths of the Milky WAY
Herschci attempted this again and again tie
,skes spot a,t Visible Ia the naked eye. AMI m
a low magnify ing power begins his examination.
n. find. this spot showing hundreds Of stars. and
behind them appears to be milky wilderness
which indicates other stars more remote Tie takes
a telescope Of larger power and tbs causes the
.pot t. blaze with more stars yet stlll there 10 a
milky haze indicating that he has not yet prneira
ted The utmost depths. Tie takes another sull
more powerful instrument, and yet he does not At
tain the outermost limits Tor still there hanne's
beyond Finally he places his forty feet reflector
IN the direction and then hnds the whole IA glow
with beautiful objects like diamond points nPn
hhe deep. clear vssli OF Heaven. without stain
bey ODD. tApplassel Now he knows he has pen
etrsted TO the oats,de. and he knows bow much
power was required to take him there. for be has
gone onward step by step tall the last haze 10 re'
moved ihave had occasion % 40 through the very
s.me ex animation and can give not the slightest
de. Of the feelings produced when upon opening
the full pow er Of the telescope. looked entirely
| beyond the limits Of the Milky Way and sa~ these
orbs resting upon the deep, unstained blue o'
| Heaven. tAPPlscse