Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-01-25
The Sun in Flames.

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Mr.. Richard A. Proctor writes to the
London Echo, as follows: "We have
within the last fortnight had new evil
dence in the star depths of a danger to
which our own sun, and we along with
it, would seem to be exposed. There
are some astronomical subjects Of in
quiry which, though they relate to boz
dies inconceivably remote, concern us
inhabitants of earth very nearly. 1t is,
for instance, question of considerable
interest to us whether the evidence we
have about the sun suggests or not the
probability that orb-the fire, light, and
life of our SYSTEMS gradually parting
with its energies in such sort that our
descendants will be less thoroughly
warmed and lighted than we are our
selves. 1t is question of interest
again whether there is any truth in such
"a theory as was once thrown out Ito
the amazement Of astronomers, be it
remarked) by Sir w. Thomas, that the
fragments of destroyed planets might be
the vehicles whereby the seeds of life
are carried to new worlds, and that as
our earth, visited in remote ages by
such fragments, was thus supplied with
the germs of that life which is now so
abundant on her surface, so she, in her
turn undergoing destruction, will be
sent in fragments through space, scat
tering about the germs Of life for the
benefit ofother worlds as yet unpeopled.
Another question Of very great interest
was that started by Sir Isaac Newton
in the well-known suggestion that
should comet fall upon the sun there
would be a tremendous outburst of
solar heat, whereby this earth and all
the other worlds which circle round the
sun could be destroyed, Or, at least, all
life caused to perish from their surface.
This idea has not, indeed. OF late receiy-
ed much favor, because astronomers,
noting the small effects produced by
comets upon even the inferior members
of the solar system, such as the moons
of Jupiter, have come to regard comets
as bodies of very little weight, whose
material, therefore, falling upon the
sun could produce but insignificant fires.
Moreover, we have learned to consider
the probability of the downfall Of a comet
upon the sun as exceedingly small. We
know that among those whose paths
have been properly determined during
the last few years only two have made
a very near approach to the sun-though
by strange coincidence. one Of these
was the first ever dealt with on the
Newtonian principles-viz., Newton's
own comet Of the year of 1860. That
one approached the sun within less
than sixth Of his diameter. and its
very nucleus must have swept the sum-
mits Of the red flames which we now
know to exist all round the sun we see.
The other was the comet of 1S43. which,
on the 9th Of February in that year,
was within about 10000 miles of the
suns surface so that the bulk Of its
coma or hair must have swept over the
sun, and the outermost parts of its
nucleus must not only have met the
solar flames, but even have reached the
low-lying bed of flame seen during solar
eclipses; and called the sierra. Still,
these two comets only, among all those
of the last two hundred years, have
made very near approach to the sun,
and, as no mischief has followed, as
tronomers are encouraged in the belief
that, whatever danger we may have to
fear from changes in our suns condi-
ton, comets are scarcely to be regard
ed as the probable cause of such dam
ger,
''But the news Just received from the
star depths concerns US more nearly.
1t tells us of a sun, doubtless in general
respects like our own, which has met
with some great catastrophe, whose
cause we cannot at present determine,
but whose real nature is unmistakable.
Our sun is one among hundreds of mil
lions, each of which is probably, like it,
the centre of scheme ofcircling worlds.
Each sun is rushing along through
space, with its train of worlds, each
bearing, perhaps, like our earth, its liv-
ing freight, or, more probably, each at
some time or other Of its existence be-
coming habitable for longer or shorter
period. Thus the suns may be compar-
ed to engines, each drawing along its
well-freighted train. Accidents among
these celestial engines seem fortunately
to be rare. A few among the suns APP
pear suddenly Chat is. in the course of
few hundred years, which in celestial
CluOuOLutII} diuUuutS " d ucI6 luSldul)
to have lost large part OF their energy,
as though the supply Of fuel had some
how run short.-Mishaps Of that kind
have not attracted much attention,
though manifestly it would be serious
matter if our own sun were suddenly
to lose tllree-fourths of his heat, as has
happened with the middle star of the
Plow, or ninety-nine hundredths, as has
happened with the once blazing, but
now scarcely visible, orb called Eta in
the keel Of the star-ship Argo. But
when we hear Of an accident Of the con-
trary kinda sun suddenly blazing out
with more than hundred times its US
ual splendor a celestial engine whose
energies have been overweight, so
that sudden plosion has taken place,
and the fires, meant to work steadily
for the train, have blazed forth to its
destruction-we are impressed with the
thought that this may possibly one day
happen with our own sun. The en-
cumstances are very curious and THOUGH