The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1868-12-09
MODERN ASTRONOMY,

\ q pace equal 70 that between Phliadeiphis
and New Orleans lis passed over III Il single
minute. and IA 600 miles OF progress are
made in every hour. When we reflect
that this recession has been going on for
ages. and yet that Serius presents 70 Us
the same apparent magnitude, we, are ena-
bled 10 form some faint idea, ID the enormous
size of this huge sun-or he almost incon-
ceiyable velocity with which the stellar
bodies are flying through space. and of the
unreasonable extent 81 that great universe
which aiIar,ls 4 field for such magnificent
movements.
If DOR own snlsr system. with It's great
eentrAl orb. the sun. and its attendsnt
planets. were oil the celestial phenomena
d'scembie by the eye OF man, the group
would be glorious subiec, oil ,contemp.a.
liiun 'fhe immense orbits of our planets
AROUND the central orb, with their astoni,h
ing regularity and unyarying accuracy,
shouli OF themselves attract the in,ensest
curiosity and admiration. Hut when be-
yoml Tins vast magnitude and conplextty
We may observe in the lar ether lie stellar
system, with myrisds II suns, each one OF
which, in all probability. has congerie oil
worlds around II invisible 10 u, the stu
pendous spectacle almost coaioands our
comprehension. #7
But even this vastness and profession OF
celestial phenomena cunsutuie only the
threshold 10 that infinity Of splendid suns
which stud the outer domain ol the grest
universe; for there i the Milky Way. once
misunderstood and undefraled rs mere
nebuiosiiy, exalted hy the superior power
1T Lord kuss's telescope iDiu 4 system al
brilliant suns. too vast and grand to be fully
cum rehended by man. Bur when we
learn that that telescope. applied to only
limited section "a the Milky WAY. brnaghi
WITHIN the scope OF humans sisi1n mere than
eighty thousand suns. we NAV be aided D
LITTLE ~ our search alter infinH.. That lar
beyond even this brilliant ring III sans there
stretch ont Into Tie uhiaihiuned abysses IL
space, on every side Of u. f,,r ever and Tor
ever. with no possible limitation. other and
yastrr systems even .haa these, what Iea-
sanable man can doubt A ItmtIe.s ,nid
beyond sAat Is visible 20 us would seem 20
lie but an lnmeanlng blank IN The ere.Iion,
and IS moreover, inconsistent with astrouo-
meal observations. With every gar. in
The way Of teIe-copic improvement. the
heavens are soanded mrre deeply, and new
suns ale brought into view aud II Las been
la,rly supposed that If Improvement 10
telescope capacity could 20 on continually
increasing. The whoie firmsment might b.
resolved INTO one unbroken csnopy vl hamr
and light.
To men unaccusipned TO lift their eyes
10 The starry worlds around them. such
language might appear e,trsyaganl. Bat
the scientific sslr.numer 50 iUrtisirs his
by pulhe.es By proufs 80 ,cusblr even To the
simplest understanding that II is li'iicult 10
resist the sublImest 81 his Impressions. lie
c1lcDldtss lur d 10 the nicety ol minutes
aud 5. cond. the eclipse and oersItali3ns nc
curing 10 OUT solar system, 80 that The must
supple observer. ihr"ugh piece % smoked
glass, csay vrrIfy The skillfuI pregnD.tic.
Being thus assured that the astronomer il
a drsler 10 sober yerlties. we may we'll az.
inrd ~ trust him further, and TO receive ~
nearly accurate thnse Interesting maps 81
WV m"VHf 49, - NuHtChl NuuUlnWs. SUI
lot Mars. with his cari aus intrrmlxfpre 81
prrSus .iti, Tie dry land which so marked.
y distinguish Us surface. We may we'll
giant cfedencr, also. 10 the patient nb,er,a.
Inns 81 science, uhen We are assured thai
IN sdditIoa TO Tie marvellous e,ululions
sitfn our solar system, each Of which j. an
astounding spectacle. the entire system.
sun aud planets, are mo,ing al The rate 81
one hundred and hfiy million miles per an.
nam 10 vast orbit or d direct q CHI TO.
Yards one OF the suns which c,nstitutes The
Pieisdes. tAe1
What other and saster movements there
mas b. ID the gresi cycle Of inRnits com.
pretended 10 the phrase ilIimiiable space,
whoesn yrntnfe tossyf Butm what il al.
ready demonstrated u exist in tie starry