, 1874-03-15
PROF. PROCTOR.
The Last of His Astronomical
Lectures.

Prof, Proctor gave the last OF hi. series OF lee
lures upon astronomy yesterday afternoon. I
Tas given with tho express iurcation Of accom-
mo1atiug ladies and others who might have beer
| unable to attend the evening lectures. The au
dience, therefore, WIS smaller than any Of th<
preceding ones, aud wes largely made up o
lulies.
Following is condemned synopsis Of the
lecture:
Mr.. Proctor made few preliminary remarks
on the subject Of tue
+ STUDY OF ASTRONOMY,
which most peopla considered : ycry abstruse
scialce, requiring an immense amount Of study
and time. but ho snid tina: it was not SO. He had
real1y only studied hnrd about three years. the
lust seven months having been devoted more to
the announcement Of the results obtained and
the poFu!aEizins OF the subject than to any con-
tinued study OF the eclcncc.
He then referred to several illustrations OF the
moon which we're thrown On the screen, to show
Low an amateur with only Il two-inch refracting
telescope could obtain very entertaining anu in
structive results which might lead, il tho hands
Of 40 enthusiast, to further mud more important
discoveries.
THE SURFACE OF THE MOON
presented series Of hollows, elevations, and
cratere, which made it appear like tho form
taken By co1cateous solutions when cooling aud
the moon, and also one Of calcareous solution
made by himself, which resembled each other
ye,y closely.
Eut tho extent of these craters was such that
it was not possible that any calcarcons matter
should be able to retain its seape III forms OF
outlets Of volcanic action, sinco they we're 30
large that they would, in q very short time,
exhaust all the energy Of the moon.
He accounted for tho appearance by
dition, was udeuted BY the .fall OF meteor1c
showers, which left these imp1esslors on tha
surface.
THE PLANET JUPITER
Tue lecturer then Went on to speak OF Jupiter
aud his satellites, which, lie said, were very in
tercsting objects Of examination. Sometimes
they might be seen By pernou of acute eyesight
with tho naked eye, but on, almost any clear
night one OF two Of them might be seen with
good feld-Giass. Tho phenomena carsod py the
transit OF these moous Of Jupiter confirmed his
opinion that the planet itself MAS bright glow
ing body liko our sun
Various illustrations Here given, to show some
OF 1hs conditions OF Jup.tera surface, among
which were enormous bands Of shadow, indicat-
ing the lection Of currents OF air or yapor,
travelling at tue incredible speed Of 195,000,UO0
miles per hour.
SATURN AND IT'S RINGS.
Passing to Saturn, the lecturer said that this
planet required more powerful telescope to ex-
anime it than Jupiter Speaking OF the ling,
he said it had been considered rigid mass Of
solid matter. Bpt this theory was rejected, for
the reason that no material could bo
cohesive enough to malntnin its shape
in such 1arge mass, hut
some parts would be subjected to so great a
pressure as to be perfectly plastic. OLserva-
tions OF the ring showed that a1oag itB edges, at
lines, the observer could zee the surface OF tho
planet through the ring. Hence the theory was
advanced that the luminous ring was under
gong processes OF cna15ge, aud that it WAS
formed Of an inln:tesitnal number OF small satel-
lItcs. making a ring like u band OF sand 1heao
satellites we're continually revolving about the
planet, and lad many collisions among themselves
which sont reycrberations OF thul'der through
the whole ring, and created immense MASSES of
yapor Hence tie whole nasp which looked 80
calm and quiet, was tho scene OF immense noise
and energy.
THE SPOTS or THE sCs.
Mr. Proctor then brought forward Wustra-
tious Of the spots on tho hun. And he recon-
meudcd to any persouss who might desire to
study these spots with small telescope TO be
very careful not to lose their eyesight, and to
use something batter tnan darkened glass for
protection since the latter might suddenly melt
and destroy the eycsight.
the startling theory tbat the bright, glowing
particles seen moving on .he surface OF the sun
might be living beings Of some peculiar constltu-
ton. They presented some cnaracteiistlcs OF ami
mated exls! ence and over 99-1uO OIL the suns light
was derived from these particles. They seemed to
be the hcads or aplces Of small particles, tioat-
ing above the surtnce and connected Herewith
by hight flaments hanging down. The spo.s
eecn would then be tho cavities where thsse fiji
gmeuts were drawn in and sucked down.
4 number of illustrations wela thon gi7en OF
Tue suns surface, and OF It's surroundings during
. total eclipee.
THE coxEr OF 1861.
Speaking of comets, Nr. Proetor sho1ed Illus
.rations Of the comet OF 1861, which he had
studied in Ireland with q 31s-iuch telescope
rhia comet was very interesting, as it Was the
one throuah which tho earth pasted without any
injury OF commot:on, there being nothing cut q I
Leaving the objects sIown by tele.cop'c e1- |
lmipatiors, the lectu'er passed. to tho theories
winch had been advanced on cersain |
points. It WIS found that tue. planets |
nd asteroids we're controlled by: fixed |
nd neariy aiailw lAHa. They turned upoa |