Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1871-02-24
OUR DICTIONARY.
BY o6RRKTERo.
ASTRONOMY.

ASTRONOMY.
Astronomy may be called the science Of the
universe. All knowledge attainable by the hui
man mind in regard to the distances, magni-
tudes, perihelious, sphelious, revolutions and
peculiar characteristics of the heavenly bodies
is laid at our feet BY this science. 1t teaches us
all we know of the grand harmonious movements
of the planets and suns which compose Gods
uniI ers,.
II is evidently The Oldest Of sciences. When
men were in state Of barbarism leading an out.
door life and sic ep beneath II starry canopy
they were naturally led to study the heavens
The varied appearances which were presented
night after night, at first excited the wonder oI
the savage, and then led him 10 inquire FOR q
cause. We can trace the workings OF his mind
IN the search for knowledge. He would observe
that the sun n iLu lily rose md set in different
parts Of the heavens, first north OF the equator
and then south Of it, lie would notice that i
made this change across the equator twice a
year, anl mark the time Of crossing which cou.
stitute the equinoxes. He would also mark the
extreme points moi tn and suuth 10 which the snr
rose aud set, which would give him the SOL
stices. The different phases o the mJon and l.:
total disappearance for while would attract hi:
attention, and he would deduce the conclusion
tha: the moon rsvolved around the earth. WhT
the sun was eelipsed he would know that the
moon was between it and the earth. When the
moon was eclipsed he would reason that ths
earth was between il and the sun. HS would
observe that there was not an eclipse at every
revolution Of the moon, aud conclude that its or
bit was not on the same plane with the earth and
sun. Thus would he proceed in his reasoning
until a system was established. Proof Of the
great antiquity Of astronomical science is found
in the fact that among the archives Of Egypt has
been discovered hieroglyphic representing the
heavenly bodies In particular position, which
according to the known laws Of motion, could
not have taken place less than twenty thousand
years ago. /: is true the Egy ptian might have
represented this position without having seen IT,
but the most reasonable surpostion is that they
pictured the heavenly bodies as they saw them
at the time. Job and Ssnchoniathon, who were
both anterior to Moses, display a knowledge oi
astronomy.
The earth, and all the planets OF our system
move in an elliptical orbit round the sun. have
endeavored to find a competent reason tor thi:
eiliptcal motion, but have failed. Either th,
centrifugal and centripetal forces are precisely
equal or they are not. II they are equal the re
suit will be the production of a complete circle
If they are unequal the earth would fly either t.
or from the center. But the earth does not hl
out Of its orbit on either side. Therefore Ia,
forces are equa'. How, then, can two equal force
produce an elliptic? l cannot explain by an
VI tOICeSy IOT tue IoECeS WOulu Op-
crate more strongly the nearer earth approached
the point in its o-bit farthest the su1. IL th
outside influence could draw the earth from tn
C ,mpl, te circle, it would, becoming stronger ey
cry me m ent, necessarily prevent its return AM
project it in a tangent. The only way can &C
count for the elliptic is by supposing that tn
solar system reVOlves rapidly, in which case tn
orbits would be elongated at the equator ant
hdttened at the polls" and the movements OF th
planets resemble the gyrAtions of drunken mel
more closely than anything else.
| am equally at a loss to comprehend th
movements Of cometary bodies, as explained b.
! astronomers. Why should the comet make on
complete half circle round the sun and then fI
of into space? The reason they give is that It.
velocity it acquires in approaching the sun is s
great as TO oserbalance the graVitation Of the SUI
and propel it into space again. But, as it pro
| ceeded on its way, when its velocity and th
| gTavitation of the sun became equal, would
notIcome H. a stand-still? Then, supposing tn
attractive force Of the sun IN continue Operating
as il necessarily must, the velocity Of the come
having been expended, would it not proceed di
rectly to the sun, striking that body fair in th
center? p? What would prevent?
| Allow nae TO recommend, in conclusion, tn
study of the heaYens and the mysterious nave
meuts of the worlds OF inhnitude. Il lifts tn
| soul above the cares of earth and teaches it /
commune with its Creator. In the language G
the immortal Pope:
Observe how system into system runs,
What other planets circle other sunsl
Not forgetting that other coupiet,
All are but parts Of one stupen ions whole,
Whose body nature is, and God the soul