The Lake County star. [volume] (Chase, Mich.) 1873-current, 1877-02-08
A World on Fire.

broke in two pieces, one OF which went
into each of the woman's eyes, and
made her totally blind.
A World on Fire.
A most interesting phenomenon, which
unfortunately did not attract the atten-
ton of American astronomers, has
created quite sensation among observ-
ers beyond the seas. On the Oath of No
vember last, Smidt, of Athens, was
startled to see bright star of the third
magnitude in neighborhood where no
star of such a magnitude was visible
four days before. It's position in right
ascension was 81 hours, 36 minutes, 50.4
seconds, and its decliuation, north, AZ
degrees, 16 minutes, and 56 seconds. Its
locality, therefore, was in the constella-
ton Cygnus, astronomical northeast by
east from Alpha, or the brightest star in
that quarter of the heavens, and distant
about twenty degrees. On December 6
it is reported to have decreased in bril-.
liancy to the fifth magnitude, and week
later to be scarcely visible, that is to say,
was difficult sixth magnitude star. DR..
Peters, of Hamilton College, did not hear
of it until about the Goth of December,
when it was visible only by the aid of the
telescope. European observers subjected
this brilliant stranger to the analysis of
the spectrOscope, and found the evidence
of incandescent hydrogen. Oserm, of
Paris, found seven bright lines, three of
which were hydrogen and the others
perhaps of sodium, and an unknown
element, helium, so.called because of its
presence in the solar atmosphere.
A writer in the Independent compares
this suddenly appearing and swiftly de-
parting star to the one which appeared
in 1866 in the northern crown, and which
burst forth as star of the second mag
nitude, and in ten days slipped down to
one of the sixth, and is now only seen by
a good telescope rs star of the eleventh
magnitude. 1t was observed by Hug
ginO, and presented the same spectrum
as that which lately blazed up in the
heavens, each presenting evidence of the
came metallic and other vapors which are
supposed to be in eruption on the sun.
This last star is supposed to have been
at its maximum three hundred times
brighter than in its ordinary aspect.
That of 1866 is said to have been much
more brilliant.
The causes of such phenomenon are
not yet we'll ascertained. For three hun
dred years speculation has tried at the
problem. In November, 1872, Tycho
Brahe was surprised one evening to see
new star in Cassiopea of extraordinary
brightness. So familiar was he with the
heavens that he could not believe his
own eyes. "To convince myself" said
he, "that there was no illusion, and to
obtain the testimony of other persons,
called the workmen in my laboratory
and the passers-by." The very first light
near that of Tycho's star exceeded that
of Vega or Sirius. "It could be only
compared" said he, "to Venus in quad
rature." 1t was visible even in broad
noon. In five months it was star of
the second magnitude, and in a year
afterward it had disappeared. 1t was at
first white, then yellow, and then red.
Was it variable star, as that term is
commonly understood that is to say,
having period Uf alternating aspects
or was it some sudden conhagration in
the heavens, a fire which defied the
brightness of the sun, and in year and
half burned out? 1t is impossible to
say.
1t is suggested by some that there may
have been terrible collision of two
great bodies in space, the friction setting
them both on fire; by others that per-
baps electric and magnetic power play
some part in producing the gigantic
coupe de theatre, and others still that these
phenomena may be caused by the passage
of star across some opening in non
luminous nebulous matter. There is
nothing incredible in the story that these
stars are worlds on fire, or, il not worlds,
suns which at times give out great in.
crease of light, just as our sun does in
lesser degree. One thing we may say,
however, the theory that rapidity OF
movements may account for the increase
and decrease of brilliancy, is altogether
untenable. Arago estimates that star
travelling with the rapidity of light
would require six years to fall from the
first to the second magnitude. What
shall we say of star which goes through
this change in few days2 1t is worthy
of remark that most of these temporary
stars, If they be such, that have been OBJ.
served hitherto, have appeared in the
same general celestial neighborhood. In
the tenth, thirteenth, and sixteenth CEN
turtles similar phenomena were observed
In or not far from the constellation Cas-.
siopea.
The effect Of a general theory upon oc-
casional phenomena Is illustrated in Hum |
boldts unwillingness to suppose con-
migration. He had adopted the idea of |
the indestructibility Of the heavenly
bodies. The contrary theory Is now &C
cepted. Science has come almost ever TO
our Old Bible, which says the world shall
be burned up.
Mr.. MOODY, speaking of his forthcom.
ing meeting in Boston, says 1t is his pro.
found conviction that all his previous
put together will not com mare