The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1859-09-21
WHOLE NUMBER 59S.
Double Stars.

A few years only have passed away since
an astronomer commenced the examination
Of what is called "double stars" Sir VIII
liam Herschel is again the pioneer in this
field of investigation, and he tells US that
when he began he gathered from all the cat.
alogues Of which he had any knowledge
list OF all the "double stars" then known.
think the list consisted of about five
Since that time It has been increasing with
tremendous rspidty. He himself ran It up
to hundreds; his son, who succeeded him,
ran it up to thousands. After while Suuve,
who had charge Of the great Observactoryat
DorPut, ,gave his whole observing energy to
this one department Of the heavens, and the
result has been that he has published cat
! alogue, in some sense, almost without nun.
Der, Of these double stars, which exist strewn
richly throughout the regions of space.
Now we find, after a rigorous examination
Of these double stars, that it is utterly i'm.
possible for US TO suppose that they are opti.
cally united, that they are accidentally so lo-
Gated in space that they are SO close together
as to give the appearance OF union; and
W hen we come to apply what is called the
calculus OF probabilities, we find limit
within which this possible optical appear
ance may occur, and everything beyond or
inside this limit must be physical union.
The stars are not merely accidentally loca-
ted in this way; they combine, the one with
the other, each energized by the power of
grayitation, and two revolving about their
centre OF gravity. Now, this announcement
which make, extraordinary as it may ap-
pear TO those who have not heretofore inves-
, tgaed it, has been fully carried out and yer.
ifed by observation. We trace these re-
volviag suns in their orbits, until under the
gazo OF man some OF them have performed
entire revolutions. Many others are far ad.
vanced. Astronomers have gone yet far.
ther, and, sppyinG the great laws of gravi.
u tation, and the laws of motion, have actually
predicted their periods-have given US an
ephemers which should mark the place Of
l dictions have been verified, so that we have
these revolving orbs scattered throughout
d the heavens; some rapidly sweeping through
IS space in periods shorter than the periods Or
10 revolutions Of our planetary orbs; others
e rising in grandeur and magnifcsnce until we
or find their periods reaching BY possibility mil.
la lions Of years.
IN Let me call your attention to single eyS
H. ample. There is q quadruple star in the
IT, constellation Lyra--two double stars--the
ne periods Of which have been determined com.
its paratively, and we fnd that one double set is
of revolving in this manner about the other
in all Of them sweeping through space and per-
ra' forming this mighty revolution in period OF
led not less than million of years. But you
in may ask me how is it possible to decide such
ear a question as this-how con it be done!-
'ry First, we announce that these bodies are
are physically united, from the fact that they are
1e- all moving together in one common direc'
&C. ton, with one equal velocity through space
ore | do not reler now to their movements OF
I'VE revolution about each other. refer to Q
be- common proper motion, a sort of tie carry
he ing these bodies off bodily together. 1t il
u'l utterly impossible that they should be car
ley ried off together unless they were physically
cry united. They make up mighty system
ted and when we come to measure the distance
pit by which these bodies are severed, it is pos
'ey sible to determine roughly the period OF rev
the olution which must by necessity make ul
all. the vast time which is required for them Il
bun sweep entirely round. Thus we find tina
'nd there is diversity in the constitution of thi
too universe, such as we find surrounding u
cry everywhere upon the foee Of the planet thO
KY we inAabit We may anticipate, therefore
lIti' schemes and systems rising one above an
om- other, each as diverse from the other ss ar
and the plants and animals that grace, dignity
'ea' and beautify the earth. So it is in the heav
pon ems. Here we have bodies of all possibI
kinds and charac.er.-Pyof. MitcheITs Leo
tu-e.