New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-01-21
THE LECTURE.

1tlE LECIURb.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: | have seen in one
Of IN. papers question relating point OF great ia
erest history Of earth that is to gay, the
GRADUAL change Of the carth period II is SUD
sosed 70 have been that this effect - due
the action of the tiGa wave, which really acts as
Drake. because the tidal wave travels IN direction on
tste the earths rotation. aud the question aNked Is
Hsw much does the rotation lose at what rate
she great terrestrial clock losing time made rough
calculation aud | found the loss l. so small A. tins;
ihst al the the terrestrial time would
~ about three minutes behind what t would he II the
sarth continue to rotate from thi> moment on
ward without any change; three minutes M 900 years
You viii perceive, therefore, that that Is The accunu
,sted loss that the actual loss 81 the earth u 10 very
small thai million Of years will have ~ eidpsc before
sBy real serious change the oarths reauou period or
abe length o. the d:,S takes place.
CALM OF uIt STAR DEr1Hs.
IL you look AZ the SKY in a calm, clear night, suct a.
ysu have "A ;Amcuca when all the stars shine aud the
smipoasuraDlo heavens glitering With them, the
LbougbJful mind j. impressed With tne feeling that
calm roicus in those infinite depths TINS II the
idea suggce TO the poet Nor d"es any other view
xresent itself those study the first teachings oi
astronomy We know that the stellar sphere s carried
freu east Go west the and moon are carried IN
.hs uerod o.. "a single dan: and We know " We watch
she heaven, night after night at The hour you Will
sud motion from east to west taking place III
she course the And there = yet one other mo
sion by winch the whole -phcr OF the heavens seems TO
ryratc about AXIS. the period 0t that ration being
srs wears. Bal We know quite well tnai these mo
Nou. AT not real that they produced by our earths
.aoiou thar j. the earth rotating on her axis III the
seurse Of day which cau,es thc heavens q" appear
- turu round that time. 1t j. the earth travel
.bs around IN an orDit which causes the hedN-
,ns e. have periodical modou amt II -
,Ae earth grating like gigantic CLOCK. gu
her Air m that period Of year. that causes the
sphere OF the heavens Ia sech q" ~ rate III tht
period. But We pass from those ir>t teachings
astronomy and consider what has been Liu2' ~ hS
modern ovcry, must that where there seems
there L. al activity compared win "hIth al
sh. forms of lie on our earth Insignificant Every
one OF the starr that still travelling through >pde"
MANY miles every second OF time The very least at
sbcte ORB, 81 faint that II IS Only N--
Ole bs momcuL,ry scntiHatpns, j. Al orb ~ every
second OF existence there Is more life aud energy
Azn sunceut the wants ~ tins earth for hundreds
.ear.. and The least change Of those stars, whether
~ ar increase dmnuou ot brightness. corresponds
t. 90 accession d,auuiiou al lite and energy ''m-
rarst. 10 that winch the earth receives from our san
for hundred, of wears.
In the first lecture reminded YOU Oi the activity 81
The SUI; that that orb j. the scene of acnu,, 81 tnnuit
and energy compared 10 which all the fOrn> 81 uTOdr
known nothing and every one o. these star
see how utterly ala, Is thc reality from that winch
rhe miud presents You LOOK at The heavens m th,'
country Of clear she-. Whctc every mus h- -" ai Oh"
aud the STAYS so >ul and ih heavens appear ="
81 ~lt
while realty Nou are loohht ~ Tie most s'rrehd'uN
sccue activity. Md now leg as reflect "n me lesson
stellar heavens. la The h''t place We have 10
luow how large these are ana Iu order 10 KNOW
.niS know INC dst1nce ~ about ten -ar. In
seed may 20 niurh further than mat ana say 'hert -
but one sla' n th, el 'e' ""'' Hi-'"'"''n ' "'A''
upon 80 determined.
DISTANCE oT TINIB STARS.
Tho problem which etrouomcr> have To solve ir iicr
RAINING III, distance Of the stars Is one Of ,'upend"us
sifs,nlt, We have determine 20 by Two observer
,aced a. opposite sides OF The earth OF rather one
,.oryer i'm different part the earth, or separated
Nv 80 ea Oa miles No star except nine oi ten rtuaIu
ncb,ugod N direction. but what must be- their distance
when a change of .'t""us IN O. pa ',,, r, r ." ",r
Jbere 4. "a star IN thc southern heavens called Alpha
,cntaun Tnat star changes - 'Iish'N IN 'lt1utm
,osnu A. the earth circles around 10. OlHt t1at the
opIy way w can indicate the mluucne,> o ihr chhse
j. this Take the nuutch dud OF Wt''b IL ,I'l h"0d
we're inoying uniformly You would rot Ne "Nc 10 SC
thar uglC second OF change ~ all lnr 70 lh"( sur
change from it, position les tiah we iuiu, -iIi9
mi an second, hlt 80 the twOiudfedtu pat q" IT,
That star el0Uw times iuilhcr aHy lhau " ," -,
comp'reG WIN othe' - = '. ~ ti one , Sf
sreakue or Astronomers have s.uo" found mat a. II
sot tnrv, I'M ,t f,ad he, lad been IA error IT, ii,o
extent of 3Vo,0u 81 mics ir the ,uu'> distance,
Whole d,,asee Of the sun; ana yc' thc error
in iu.truu:uta. measurement il 81 small lhot
we are scarcely abIe 90 appreciate H. II '~ th' uifa
pari that nuut, change o 'c 2oth part of second
,e mo di-k az star The largest presents Lo &IprcC
ali, dsk iu the telescope. How, tl"u rfu We Ten i'
-te o. starr We have means except bS measuring
~. bght. Take the star Alpha DAD tht ''hitir. lhu
,ar ia, been found 20 IN uc WITT iGc lv part oI lhc
.lu'e hrightue,s II the sun were moved 10 tht d.
,snco OF That star would hc thc :G}IV1 ptrt oi IT,
.rr.eut bri.h,ut-s. would Dee more reduced IMAM
that star actually That star shines Three Tunes A.
brightly the 81 placed b' sl'r H. 90" S >'i'' 'e
I've times the s1u's.
tuN-IItIIioN or 7Ut tEs.
Al .upr"-ug hat th, surface o. that star ~ 81
the intia-e brightness the 'uu-that D. thai
square tnic Of ihc ,tr give, @. much sLt a, q ,lure
mile a. The -ru. 7 pass iroa that STAR jo ano,Hcr.
That too s larger tAau sun; rut there is anofHer
.Tar of which viii ,ledA, the kin. ilc .iaf
Sims ~ luuI rut- hr ,hJ TIE ~flf II
ths trutaur. - nVs times a. 'ar fYfr
1--WE times 'tr away. z -npNN -hu, with the
esh part II te hight Of mat liar 100 the teutaur Gut
really lo0 times 'r,znt That sia IA J1' trpt,ut
tbrrc times bright hr sun. and SIRIUS therefore
$50 time. . rt-it th, Then IL ,cufuc exceeds
rhe ~ur.'~ IfDe-. Thor - orb girer ns
I'm our ,ru ever. -r'.teI degree than
,be relation OF the sun 10 JGpteI. There
Srfus .It.l-
az light hut hos 90 Snuw mat 30 - ,Ui like
tb1t tlr.t stars .rr uut porous contest m Vtc
~ have -r.ruuu- nae-t. ttrv lDaV not have
amount of power WicE they dr" able 90 4iNnet ANA
thercfore rule ssstt 81. bodies tIr-he ifoA'd iuni
ouifa rcceHtIg there seemed means 81 aStrriarng
Sbefber that uotiOu NOT Enf Dog ii' h.f'uh
nf a.. spectfo,.o. t.d that tte ar >uD- .. 0-t-
Won know have leaned before iId' "'. rHt .h-'-
Ike "A burning mass through overly H- Nd"'e OF Known
~iement.. ~ eau show mai 'hc stars give
rainbow-f.ut,d stTrs 80 eau ku'N mat it! H' SUNS
ble Oul1.
frrs tSst