The New York herald., 1870-01-09
A Coming Scientific Cutaclysm.

Coming Scientific Cutnciysms
We live in an age that is realizing great suo-
cesses in It's conquest of the secrets of nature.
In order to appreciate what our successes are
one has but to compare the body of the physi-
illusions and fanciful notions that occupied it's
place lfty years since. But our progress has
been unequal. While 1t is real and tangible
for the Investigations that regard our planet
il is altogether halting for tho general inquiry
OF our relation to the planetary universe.
Astronomy is behind oil the sister sciences,
but there is now some promise that she may
not long remain in that position. We find this
promise in the fact that there Is soon to be
given to the world remarkable book on
the planetary universe, by the accomplished
astronomer Dr. Trastour de Varan0. This work
declares nothing less than that our entire
accepted system Of astronomy is erroneous.
The work upon its appearance will undoubt-
edly encounter a desperate opposition from
the old school, and furious war will certainly
be waged against it by most professional
astronomers. How could it be otherwise.
since the author proceeds to show that ''the
astronomy Of our day has neither principle,
method nor precepts2" Whether the mechan-
ism of the planetary universe which DR..
Trastour advances be the true one or not, the
high scientific positions which he has success
fully occupied, and his established reputation
as man of practical observation and OF
mathematical correctness, will secure his
hearing before the scientific world at large.
while the serious charges which he brings
against modern astronomy and the novel argu-
ments which he opposes to the Coperncan
system, to Kepler's laws and to Newton'a
theory of gravitation, cannot fail to take many
by surprise and to cause thorough fhvestl,
CATION into our present system of astronomy to
take place. The work touches npon ques-
tons of vital interest, and Is Destined on that
account to create seriop.s commotion among
scientific men and To- materially change many
of our preconceived notions. 1t is the first
gun shot of a new school against old existing
i, Institutions, and as it has already some parti-
| sans. and will no doubt enlist many more in
its cause, we may look ahead for lively time
among scientific men. The author sets forth
the following conclusions:-
ContraYy to the teachings OF the system Of Copper.
mic a. the only one that now gives law to astronomy.
the sun is not placed In the cenrro Of The planetary
system and the earth and the planets do notreYoye
| annually around that lumlnary.
Contrary to the belief IN the system Of Polemy.
the earth is not situated IN the centre OF The uni
| verse; and the sun and the planets do not accom-
plisn their annual revolutions by revolving around
Contrary to the system Of Tycho Brahe the earth ls
motioncss In the cente OF the planetary system,
and the sun does not revove annually around our
GLOBE carrying with It, IN Its revolution all the
planets tnnt circulate around II.
Contrary to che doctrine OF the astronomers OF our
days, the orbit OF the earth ana the orbits OF tho
planets are circles ana not elllpseS-Keper having
mistaken illusions for realities ascrlbing to the
eiipse power In space which 1t does not and'can'
Contrary to their doctrine. the moon does NOS
reyOve around tho earth while tne latter Is said to
Contrary 30 their a0o.rine the EARTH the moon and
the planets pursue their course continually In tna
plane oi the ecpuc and never 90 out OF It,
CONTRARY to their doctrine. the dimmurion OF the
oLnaulty OF the eclptc IS chimercai dea
Contrary to their doctrine, the procession OF the
euulnvxes upon which tine most Important works
OF modern astronomy are based, Is something taas
Contrary to their doctrine the equinoctal pointa
and the sostices always preserve their same posi-
tionS. -
Contrary 10 their doctrine the terrestrial meridian
varies annually and the lattudes and the starting
point oil longtudcs cnange from year to year.
Contrary 70 their doctrine, our civil year Is not OF
constantly equal duration as their amanacs repre-
sent It, ihere Is never year of duration equal to
c Contrary Si to their doctrine the segoran reota
cation was founded upon no astronomical basis In
stead OF preventing 1t has augmented confusion; Ut
middle M spring although Inc almanacs will cali 1
winter, If they persist 10 keeping the 2lst day Of
March as the date OF the spring equinox.
Contrary to their doctrine the climates OF tho
earth are not nearly invarable, but are subject 70
Contrary to their doctrine the stars have general
movement that carries them from west to east.
Contrary to their doctrine at future day tho
sum- the p,anets tue moon and The stars Will III
the west and set in the east
Contrary to their doctrine, the dimensions, dis
tances and movements OF the planetary bodies as
forth In their compilations and tables possess
reality whatever; for they have been determined
without taking into account one OF the most Indls-
pensable conditions.
Contrary to tner doctrine, no comet ever preclpi-
tates itself into any sun whatever In the realms VI
space. or Gavin any event come into collision with
the earth.
Contrary to their doctrine, Keper's laws are Due
pure Illusions 1t Is only necessary to stuuy them
eXperimentally In order 70 recognize the fact that
they have not the least connection with the funda
Contrary - their doctrine Newton's theory OF
grayitation offers neither evidence nor PROBABILITY
1t is fantastic commentary, built upon the chimerl
cal ideas OF Kcper radically foreign to all mathe
matical truth and even transgressng the limits Of
! common sense. Newton stepped beyond the sphere
OF the difficult only to enter INTO tmpossbllities.
The author further shows that s'the errors
of modern astronomy proceed from the fact
that men have made an article Of faith of what
is simply and purely o question Of SCIENCE"
and proceeds to disclose the fact that the pre-
dctons of eclipses, from which the Copernican
system has undeservedly derived so much
ecIot, is nothing but the result of a long expe-
rimental labor, independen. of all astronomical
| system, and limited to the observation of she
course of the sun, Of the moon and of the
periods; that they can prove nothing in favor
of any system whatever, as they have been and
can be calculated in my and every system.
After speaking Of the intimate and insepara-
BILE connections existing between astronomy
and geology he says:-