Smyrna times., 1854-07-19
Stlistellaneous.
From the Scientific American.
Are the Stars Inhabited?

Are the Stars Inhabited?
1t Is positive, and not very creditable fact
that many men of scientific ability and reputa-
ton, that they devote more time to controversy
and speculation on sub jects of no practical
benefit whatever-and respecting which they
never can arrive at any correct conclusions,
than to subjects of real utility in which every
person has an interest. In no instance has this
been so clearly manifested as in the controver-
sizes respecting the questions embraced IN the
above caption. A short time since book by an
anonymous author, was published in London
(since re-publshed by Gould and Lincoln, of
BostOn) entitled The Plurality of Worlds"
In which it is assumed that our earth, solitary
and alone, of all the starry host, is, in all pro-
liability, the only planet that is inhabited. The
author displays much learning and fine imagi-
nation, but so far as the question is a scientific
one, it appears to us that it really makes no
matter what the opinion of one or ten thousand
lnen may be, as it can neither be settled by ar
gument nor science, In its present state. If we
possessed telescopes of sufficient power to sur
vey the surface OF any of the planets the same
as we can that of our own, and whereby we can
objects OF life moving unconstrained ut distan-
ces far beyond the scope of common vision, then
no argument would be required to prove or dis
prove the question of the planets being inhabit-
ed, any more than it requires controversy to
! prove that drop of water teens with life, when
examining 1t with microscope. And since we
have not instruments to accomplish this the
best thing for astronomers and opticians to do
In the premises, instead of quarrelling upon the
subject, is to endeavor to construct such instru-
ments as will settle the question beyond the
shadow Of doubt. This advice we tender es-
pecially to Sir David Brewster, that eminent
philosopher who has just replied to the author
of the work in question, in keen and cutting
article in the last number of the /" North Brit
lsh Review. The author of the Plurality of
Worlds" concludes that the planet Jupiter is
nothing better than huge, pasty mass of mud
and water, on which no inhabitants can dwell.
Sir David Brewster considers, that although the
gravity of Jupiter, inproportion to its size, is no
greater than that of an equal volume of water,
yet it may be hollow, and its surface as inhabit-
able as our own globe. Ifthere are inhabitants
in Jupiter, the anonymous author concludes that
according to its mass the men are required to be
l649 lbs. weight each, while according TO the
reviewer, who take the radius of Jupiter-not
its mass-as his line of measurement, they are
not required to be over q times as heavy as
the men on our mother earth. This question
could be far better determined were we inform
the abundance or scantiness ofits supply, whe-
ther it was bread and beef, or tea and toast, as
we find that these things have a wonderful
l effect on the gravity of both alderman and
common citizens on our little planet.
Herschel has suggested that the sun may be
inhabited, and that between its luminous atmos.
phere and its surface, there may be interposed
: a screen of clouds, whereby its inhabitants NAV
| no more suffer from intense heat than those
, who live in our tropical regions. This may
be so, as we all know how much the heat OF
suns rays, in the hottest days of summer, are
modified by an interposing cloud, or ga swift
I passing breeze" We also know that on the
n extensive table lands ofhigh mountains in the
tropics, the glacier and ice field reign as su
preme as in the arctic regions, and all th
: although they are nearer the sun than thu
e adjacent burning plains. The depth of tn,
C atmosphere, and It's pressure upon the surface
s of the earth, affects its temperature as much a
: its relative distance from the sun, and thus
' is that many simple questions must enter int
u the calculation, to determine by reasoning, tn
- complex question of the probability of the star
g being inhabited. We believe that neither tn
sun nor the moon is inhabited. The moon ha
been found to be destitute of any atmosphere
81 consequently no living thing can dwell there
TO at least, none possessing the same function
c. necessary to life, as the oxygen breathing crea
10 lures of the earth. As the sun has not a
B.. atmosphere like ours, we also conclude tbs
- there are no inhabitants there. These two ort
appear to Notwithstanding to science-n
other duties than those described in the fir
~ chapter of Genesis, "let the sun and the moo
be in the armament to divide the day and I'll
10 night, to be for times, and seasons, days an
~ years, and to give light upon the EARTH
n 1t is our belieft that some of the planets, ar
nc thousands of other heavenly bodies in 9th,
ny systems are inhabited, but we can present l
y scientific proof in favor of this belief being DO
~ !, tively correct, neither can any person prese
ne proof that it is untrue. All we can say abo
oI it, is that probabilities are in its favor, for
er, iudge that us our planet teens with life,
ed NAV Others 1t is a reasonable inference, fro
eu what we see around us, that other worlds m;
et- be furnished as luxuriently with life and beau
as ours. We cannot believe that our planet
IL, the only theatre of life in the universe--th
nd here alone, among all the starry host, the gre
I'VE Creator has designed to display his manifc
- power, wisdom. and goodness. We cam
H. believe that our sun, and the suns of other ST.
ent nv system shine for only one single globe, whi
en- among the rest, is but speck on the star
n.y. ocean. To believe otherwise, would lead
ON to contemplate Being who had brought il
existence magnificent assemblage of mea
!. without a corresponding design, and who
ied prepared habitations fit for the enjoyment
oe' rational creatures, buthas failed to people the
MI, To such view we cannot subscribe; all pr
REQ abilities are favorable to the view of"the st
:a TAR being inhabited"
ush 49, So,,ho,, IN h;s 4. o.rnr;sno s~o,a.au
-. n II