The Nevada Democrat., 1858-06-30
Astronomical SpeculatiOns-RIngsR Round
the Earth.

On Monday, the 18th April, Professor Niehol,
LID, delivered the third of a course of lee
lures on astronomy, at Manchester. The sub
jects treated upon had reference chiefly to the
rings of Saturn, analogous phenomena He
referred to an observation made, in the intro
ductory lecture, respecting there being ring,
or probably several rings, round the earth.
What had hitherto been called the zo6iacal light,
was only visible here in the form of cone, but
an American astronomer, who had gone to Ja-
pan aud other favorable points, to investigate
the subject, found that the cone opened out and
extended across the heavens from horizon to
horizon, and that he had, by observation during
the night seen about three-fourths of the circle.
This observer found that we had only been look
ing at the ring as we might at hoop held edge
wise, thus making il assume q conical form.
The learned professor proceeded to say that
the theory previously held, that the zodiacal
light proceeded from a nebulous ring round the
sun, was thought to be premature, and that the
appearance came from great nebulous ring
surrounding the earth He explained, by dia
gram. that we should see the rays from this
ring reflected more strongly from our horizon
than at its points higher up in the heavens
No ring round the sun could explain this ap'
pearanoe, bnt one round the earth would en-
tirely They were also forced to the conclusion
that it was not one ring only, but several. Its
distance was about 100000 miles, its breadth
So, 900; its depth was not yet known the mass
of matter in ii must be enormous, aud no doubt
must be fulfilling some important function In
regard to the earth and the solar system
The composition of Saturn's rings was then
discussed. and an account given of the changes
which had been noticed in them by various OBJ
servers From the dynamical conclusions OF
Laplace, combined with the changes ascertained
the lecturer drew the inference that the rings
have no conference; that they are neither vapOT
nor fluid; and gave as theory of their consti.
tuition, that they aro composed of millions OF
asteroids, circulating round the planet; the
bright parts being where they are most thiekly
strewed, and the dark lines the absence of them
There was a faint slaty colored ring seen withir
the others, and this appeared TO be gradually
approaching the planet. 1t had approached a
the rate Of fifty miles year; latterly, at about
eighty miles year, and if it increased to one
hundred miles year, it would reach the plane
! itself in $50 years.
The remaining portion of the lecture was oc
uped with consideration of the subject of the
suns heat, and how it was sustained. Its heal
was estimated to be equivalent TO one-third OF
a ton of coal consumed on every square foot OF
its surface in an hour. A certain amount OF
heat would produce certain amount of mechan-
ica effect; and the converse was equally true,
that no mechanical effect or force could be de-
stroyed without evolving as much heat as would
reproduce it, The lecturer applied the latter
part of this reasoning to the sun. If the planet
Mercury we're to fall upon the sun, it would be
at the rate of 800 millions Of miles a second.
An amount of mechanical effect would thereby
be destroyed as would supply the sun with as
much heat as he radiates in three years, and
that heat would Immediately fash through the
stellar spaces.