The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1870-01-13
ANASzRONOafI0AL SEMSA TION.
Z NEW AND NOVEL HlEWs

AN ONOMIOAL SENSA TYON.
NEWAND NOVEL VIEWS.
II One OF the sublimest and least under,
fatood Of the sciences, is that Sof astro.
nomy. We notice that new and unex.
pected propositions have recently been
put forth on the subject by an accom-.
pltshed astronomer. DR.. Trastour de
yarano. His work is soon to appear.
Scientific men will look for its advent
With interest. This author holds that
the present accepted system is wholly er-
zoneous: THAT the astronomy of our
day has neither principle nor, method,
nor precept::" He demolishes, at blow,
tho Oopernican System. Kepler's laws and
Aewton's theory of gravitation. Scien-
siio men will doubtless subject DR.. Tras.
:sour's yiews toa severe ordeal of exami
nation. We hope the whole subject will
De overhauled. Let us have eight" in
the astronomical world. DR.. Trastour
- an astrch chonaical radical. He takes his
positions boldly In the place of former
gystems ne presents an entirely new sys-
tenn, and he undertakes to Interpret
the observed facts in connection with the
planetary system. He suggests a uni
.yersal law in lieu of Newton's theory of
grayitation. The author says:
g The astronomy of the times we live
IN has TO undergo the fate of all human
iaperrations. 1t clings tenaciously to what
is not, yet does not see what is. One of
the most remarkable arrangements that
responds TO one OF the most Important
astronomical necessities of the planet we
'!nhabit, it overlooks entirely. + refer to
the mathematical regulation that has col
leceed all the land on one hemisphere of
onr globe and covered the other with an
Immense ocean-a mechanism trauscen-
Gently simple, yet which, more than any
other, perhaps, throws into relief the
hand OF the Creator by the geometrical
regularity OF its results"
And he arrives at the following conclu-
sions:
CONTRARY to the teachings OF the sys-
tenn OF Copernicus, the only one that now
gIve1 law to astronomy, the sun is not
placed IN the centre of the planetary sys.
tenn, and the earth and the planets do
nos sevolye annually around that lumi-
Contrary to the belief in the system of
Ptolerny, tho earth is not situated in the
centre OF the universe, and the sun and
the planets do not accomplish their an
nuat revelations by revolving around it.
CONTRARY to the eaystem of Tycho Brahe,
the earth is not motionless in the centre
OF the planetary system, and the sun does
mot fevolye annually around our globe.
carrying with it, in its revolution, all the
planets that circulate around it.
Contrary to the doctrine Of the astro-
nomets OF our days, the orbit of the
EARTH and the orbits Of the planets are
circles and not ellipses-Kepler having
mistaken illusions for realities in asorib.
ing to, the ellipse power in space which
it does not and cannot possess.
Contrary to their doctrine, the moon
does not revolve around the earth, while
the latter is said to revolve around the
sun.
Contrary to their doctrine, the earth,
sne moon aad the planets pursue their
course continually in the plane of the
ecliptlo and never go out of it.
CONTRARY to their doctrine, the dimi.
nuson OF the obliquity of the ecliptic is
W UAcAN ooCtrin0, Cne preCeS-
sion OF the equinOxes, upon which the
most important works of modern nstro.
nomy are based, is something that does
not exist.
Contrary to their doctrine, the eoui.
nootial points and the solstices ALWAYS
preserve their same positions.
Contrary to their doctrine, the terres.
trial meridian varies annually, and the
iatitudes and the starting point of Ion.
gltudes change from year to wear.
Contrary to their doctrine, our civil
year ls not of constantly equal duration,
as their almanacs represent it. There is
never o year of duration equal to the one
that preceded or follows it.
Contrary to their doctrine, the Grego-
rian rectiftcation was founded upon no
astronomical basis. Instead of prevent.
ing, It has augmented confusion; at a
future day, Easter will come round again
IN the middle of spring, although the
aimanacs will call it winter, if they per
sist in keeping the 21st day of March as
the date OF the spring equinox.
CONTRARY to their doctrine, the climates
OF the earth are not nearly invariable,
but are subject to extreme vicissitudes.
Contrary to their doctrine, the stars
i-have general movement that carries
them from West to East.
Contrary to their doctrine. at a future
day, the sun, the planets, the moon and
the stars will rise in the West and set in
the East.
Contrary to their doctrine, the dimen-
sions, distances and movements of the
planetary bodies, as set forth in their
compilations and tables, possess no real
ity whatever; for they have been deter
mined without taking into account one
OF the most indispensable conditions.
! Contrary to their doctrine. no comet
ever precipitates itself into any sun
whatever in the realms of space, or can