Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-11-12
The Notion Of the starr.

The Motion Of the Stars.
The search for the solutions of some
problems 10 astronomy that have thus
far eluded research is exciting the
minds of many astronomers. What is
the centre OF the stellar universe2
Around what portion Of these worlds OF
light does the universe seem TO be re-
volving2 These are questions which may
not be answered in our day. They are
at present matters Of conjecture, and
the astronomical calculations Of future
years may illustrate and confirm these
copjectures or completely dissipate
them and leave men as ignorant as ever.
Perhaps it will hereafter appear that the
problems in astronomy which we have
so far solved, are as nothing to those
which are yet to be Investigated. From
imperfect information obtained from the
apparent motion of the heavenly bodies,
astronomers have advanced the theory
that the sun, with its attendant system,
is moving through space, in particular
direction, at rate certainly not
less than $4,000, 900 miles per annum.
This change of position of the sun gives
to the heavenly bodies an apparent mo-
ton which is also complicated with the
real independent motions of individual
/ stars. OF 5000 stars observed by Bessel,
425 had a perceptible motion, and Ar
gelsnder more recently published list
of $50 stars having proper motion.
One of these stars, called 81 Cygni, has
an annual motion that would occasion
in $50 years a change of place in the
heavens equal to the moons apparent
diameter. Though this star is the near
est known to US in the northern heavens,
its distance ia such that its real motion
has actually been calculated at forty
miles in second, or l,450, 100000 miles
per annum, whilst the space which it
really travels annually is but the fifty
thousandth part of its distance from the
earth.
1t once was supposed that light and
heat travelled in straight line from the
sun and stars to the earth, but it is now
known that light travels in series Of
waves, averaging in length but the fifty
thousandth part of an inch, and at the
velocity of 100000 miles in second.
The variety of length in these waves is
the cause of the various colors in nature,
the average length producing green,
shorter ones violet, and longer ones red.
For this reason, probably, green light is
the most agreeable to the eye, because it
is not made by waves of either extreme.
By observations on the causes and re-
suits of these waves of light, and by the
use of improved spectroscopes, it has
been found that Sirius, the brightest star
in the heavens, is travelling with
velocity of one thousand millions of
miles a year. Should it become possible
in like manner to determine the mo-
tions of all the stars visible to the
naked eye, fund of knowledge would
be obtained from which many new prin-
cples respecting the stellar system could
be deduced. So far there are not twenty
stars in the whole heavens whose dis
tances have been estimated in any way,
and not ten the distance of which has
been satisfactorily determined. So euor-
nous are these distances, that the best
instruments will scarcely show any
change of position by which the distance
can be calculated. A law affecting the
general system of stellar motions has
been guessed at, and many eminent as
tronomers believe it to be supported by
satisfactory evidence. 1.-THE same method
which has been employed in the cslcula-
tions of the motions of Sirius should be
extended to any large number of the
fixed stars, and their various motions
be discovered, it would promise great
advance in our astronomical knowledge.
The consultations which now seem to be
scattered, without discernible law, over
the vault Of heaven, may be forced to
reveal to US their secrets, and we may
hereafter discover the law of organize
ton which binds them into system, the
paths along which they moved before they
reached their present positions, and those
along which they are to travel for many
future ages. Not in our day, nor
perhaps in many generations, will
the whole truth about the stellar system
appear, and long processes of patient
labor and observation lie before the
astronomer. 1t is unworthy of philoso-
piers to let the grand phenomena OF
nature glide by unnoticed, because they
are not impressed and dazsled by any
sudden changes To say that every iu-
dividual star in the Milky Way is to have
its place determined and its motions cal
culated, would be extravsgant, but pow
erful telescopes and refined instruments,
united with the valuable exertions of
scientific men, will teach us much of what
is going on in the heavens, where at
present the Imagination is withoat
guide PhilddelDhid Ledger.