Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1853-09-05
From the National Intelligeneer.
T0METS.
COMETS

The appearance of the beautiful comet now vis-
ible in the western horizon has called the attention
of many to an inquiry into the nature and habits oil
these wanderers of the heavens, so that perhaps
few facts and opinions respecting them may noE oe
unacceptable.
We commence our remarks with Encke's comet,
the first discovered of the comets OF short periods
1t completes its revolution in about three years
1t is small, and, except under very laVo[aole CHI
cumstances, invisible TO the naked eye: ap-
proaches the sun to about the distance oil Mercu-
ry, and recedes at its aphelion, to about the dis
lance Of Jupiter.
Encke's comet manifeSts striking peculiarly;
its periodic time is gradually decreasing. rms
comet" 1t iSSaid, sis certainly falling 10" ards he
central luminary." Nor is this fall theorelc lail
from the tangent of its orbit, as the moon falls TO-
ward the earth but actual fall, according TO the
commo n meaning of the word 'iall.' ltdrawS near
er aud nearer TO the sun.
This 'fall of comets is not a new idea. 1t was
entertained by Newton, who in conversation with
his nephew thus expressed himself, (OlmStead'S
LetterS:) 81 cannot say when the comet of 1850
will fall into the sun; possibly after five orsx rev.
outions more; but when that artives the heat Of
the sun will be so raised by it that our globe will
be burned and all animal life upon it will perish.""
The opinion of Sir Isaac was founded on the laws
of attraction; but modern astronomers have attrib
uted the fall of Encke'S comet 10 resisting medi
um, which checks or SlackenS, as it were, the pro
iectile force, thus giving preponderance to tbs
gravtating force.
There is, however, very serious objection TO thu
"reSiShng medium;' for if it exist and retard tht
comets, tmuSt also act upon and retaTd the motor
compared with comets, the motion OF the planet
must be somewhat retarded; aud slowly but con
tinually must every sphere OF the solar system bt
falling into the sun.
This conclusion is admitted by those who non
| 10 the "reSsting medium" We read i'll the pre-
| face 10 the American edition of HeTSchefS Out
lines: E'By the action of the resisting medium, on
by one the planets must be lost Ill the sun, and In
sun itself be merged into OTHER suns, to contribute
by the immensely oil It's attractloh 10 inc ueSli"0
| lion of other SYSTEM.
The want of permanency in the solar system
an old speculation, very old. We read OF 1t il
LucretiuS, Book l, 1290,) ;hus translated:
ssFor ignorance of cause troubles man,
| And hence is doubt il the world began,
If e'er shall end, how long the orbs shal! roll,
How long the strrs will move around the pole"
''The stability of our SYSTEM says PIaylalr
'swas established by the great Mathematician, l.;
Grange, discovery that must render his name for
ever memorable i'll science" We do not howev
en- in this matter, place our faith III computation
There is what has been called the PhLOSoPh,a Pr
ma, something over and beyond mathematics. The
solar system was created by God, and is upheld
every moment Of time by his preSentpower. Ent
| il may, when the creator OF the system SO deer
| mines But the end comes not from wear; 1t Is no
| brought about by imperfect construction; the SO
lar system does not of itself tend to decay; tisno
to be DESTROYED by the action of the laws OF ITS pre-
| sent movements.
All the perturbations and changes of the heav
emily bodies are compensatory. From its norma
position, planet sways first on one side then oil
| the other, to an equal extent. The mean motor
is the same forever. Oscillation on one side !
countrrbalanced by motion on the other side. l
this law apply to comets-anu why should 1t not
the fall of Encke'S comet will be for a time on
y towards the sun; in other revolutions it will in
crease its distance from that luminaTy. Tine jat
IS not accidental, not fitful, not by the "Eesistin
medium" but it is from the law which guides no
only planet in It's orbit, but the smallest paIicl
of vapor that floats i'll space. y.
Newton exp essed the opinion that comets were tn
| nnr nf mel for lie