The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-03-28

Professor Proctor st the Cooper Inssi.
tute-siow the Young and ZeaIoas May


tute-FIow the Young and ZeaIoas May
AID the Learned Astronomers.
Professor Richard A. Proctor delivered. IN the
hall OF the Cooper Institute. last evening. the
ninetv-nrst OF the series OF dlscoarses the
science OF astronomy In which he has been en-
gagged since his arrival In this country. lie Will
deliver the ninety second In the same hall on next
Wednesday evening. The intent OF these
two discourses Is TO direct the minds of
young men TO the study OF astronomy This has
always been purpose with Professor Proctor, and
the directors OF the Cooper Union, following the
course OF the educational plan Of the Institution
have adopted It, Mr.. Abram ;. Hewitt introduced
Professor Proctor with brief statement OF the
scientists labors at ecturng In this country,
the remark that he had travelled from Washington
yesterday specially to arrange for and deliver his
lecture. Mr.. Proctor said that the chief OBJ
ject Of his remarks was to bring the sub
ject of astronomy before his audience So
nearly and simply that all could see with what
ease 1t can be studied. Astronomy IL not as so
many believe, an abstruse science. Twelve years
ago he 1.-THE Professor) had no knowledge OF the
science, and during the lapse OF that period he had
not applied himself wholly to the subject. lie
estimated that altogether he had given not more
than three years of application to 1t. His expe-
rience mad taught him, he said. that there was
no need for beginners In the study TO have
the most perfect appliances OF the optical
art. With such a telescope meagre means
may procure, and so much time devoted to scan
ming the skies as the student would otherwise
waste, any person can instruct himself as to the
appearance OF the stellar regions, and he may even
procure from them ideas which the greatest as
tronomer should not disdain. He especially de-
sired that youths under twenty should apply
themselves to investigating the heavens. Their
eyes are more acute than those OF Older persons,
and thus their facilities for new discoveries are
great.
Having closed the Introductory remarks, OF which
the above Is the substance, Professor Proctor
desired the hall darkened, after which he COM
menced his lecture proper, which was running
commentary upon pictures OF differing phases OF
the planets, and nebula that were thrown by
stereoscope on a screen placed upon the platform.
lie began with the moon, having represen tatiOns
OF its aspects when in iu hall and crescent state.
He showed what intimate relations there are be-
tween that planet and our earth. From indications
IN the aspect Of the moon 1t Is gathered that at
present our earth Is undergoing process OF
change which could not otherwise be Inferred.
Professor Newcomb, OF Washington has decided
that that change Is IN the shrinking OF the earth and
the consequent increase of it's rotatory speed To
Illustrate the value of imagination to the astrono-
mer, the Professor had shown several imaginative
pictures Of lunar land and water scapes In the
science of astronomy imaginative power he said,
mind OF the astronomer. BY the processes OF the
thought TO arrive AT conclusions in regard to the
planets. and OF observations to prove or overcome
the new theories, there Is continual interest
Kept IN the science and continual dsCplining OF
the ntellects OF its votaries. The planet Jupiter
and attendant satellites were next passed in
review. For several years the belts Of Jupiter
have put on reddish tinge, but they are now said
TO be returning to their normal creamy color The
causes OF these changes must be attributed to
atmospheric disturbances The planet Saturn
called out the poetical side of Mr.. Proctor. He
never had it pass before his telescope without
! having sense of harmony communicated to
N and n ,S ts s4saon By of the
'.Last, softly beautiful, like muslcs close"
Getting quickly beyond poetcal influence
nj no n1a Jun Oka of ha
ton OF its rings Passing rapidly over all the
theories about them, he came TO Professor Pierces
| the suggestion that those rings were OF liquid.
Professor Pierce demonstrated that the pressure
OF attraction to which liquid bands would be sub
jected would speedily break them up into particles,
! which would still continue IN order and shape to
experiments Professor Proctor accepted and con-
sdered to be conclusive. After commenting upon
the enormous size OF Saturn and the other con-
comltants of It's being, Professor Proctor de-
clared that he considered 1t and satellites
to be the abode Of light. Next the
Venus and called attention to their peculiar sur
face markings, represented on the charts OF the
former made AT Harvard University and those OF
the latter made by Italian astronomers, he COM
mended TO young students the task OF discovering
II those markings are exactly as they are repre-:
which seems destitute OF surface markings the sun
was arrived at and several pictures of It's surface
were shown. he called particular attention to It's
marvellously contorted appearance ana the willow
leaves or foliations OF light interlacng and bridging
the solar spots; the quiverng descent OF these foa
tons into some OF the dark spots, and other char
acteristic solar phenomena that have been OBJ
served and were expressed IN picture shown
last evening, give semblance OF truth to Young's
/ theory that the sun is an immense bubble. The
solar corona were next explained on the SUPPOSE
ton OF the sun exercising repelling power. The
subject OF comets and meteoric showers were
rapidly and lucidly explained, and the stellar
phenomena were noticed He took exception to
the definition in astronomical text books OF the
Milky Way, and likened it to the ignorant English:
mans definition OF it, as "a cloud in heaven, called
! the Trade WINDS or Aurora BOreallS."
! Professor Proctor closed his lecture by eO-
quenty speaking OF what astronomical research
taught In regard TO the inhnity OF and time.
! IL made him accept the one OF two theories that
said that ''the universe never had beginning and
Will never have an end"