New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1879-03-26
THE CRASH OF WORLDS.

The hinged planet Saturn is general
y supposed by astronomers to present
picture of planetary existence in its
earlier stages. Although the planet
already has eight moons, the matter
forming the rings constantly tends to
shape itself into new satellites. The at
tractive force of the great central mass
as constantly overcomes this tendency,
and is believed to be drawing the rings
closer and closer. The Russian as.
tronomer, Otto Strive, has predicted
that in less than two centuries the in.
1er ring will reach the planet and be
United with it. While his views are
NOT accepted by all observers, the fact
is conceded that great changes are 60.
ing on in the girdle of Saturn, and
here are strong reasons to conclude
that the matter of which it is made up
once moved in q larger circle than i,
row occupies.
| This conclusion is the basis of pape:
contributed by Prof. Daniel Vaughan
to the last number of the Popular Schemes
Monthly, in which some interesting ii
rot startling propositions are advanced.
Various opinions have been enter
tanned as to the construction of the
Saturnian rings. While they can hardly
be wholly gaseous or liquid, there is
difficulty in reg arding them as COM
posed of solid matter, since but few
solids are known which would endure
the violent commissions that frequently
disturb the great circles. 1t is sug-
gested in this paper that the principal
constituent may be water, at a tenn
perature near the freezing point. In
that case, the constant tendency to
freeze would slightly overcome the de-
structive forces and would account for
such changes of form as are revealed
ny the telescope. OF course these
changes could not 20 on without heat
from some source. but it is assumed
that a sufficient quantity is evolved
mechanically by the connections them
selves.
There seems to be no doubt, however,
that the rings of Saturn are such stuff
as moons are made of, but the question
il whether this material is to form
moons in the future or has already per-
formed its function in this respect by
forming moons in the past? Prof.
Vaughan adopts a view which indi-
Gates his belief that the planet has al
ready entered upon the latter stages of
its life. He thinks the two rings were
formerly two satellites revolving about
Saturn in wider zone. A dismember-
ment and conversion into ring, he
says, must be the general fate of every
planetary body (and moon is plane
tary body) which, by slow contrac.
ton of the path in which it moves, re-
wolves at least too close to its primary
that is, too close to the larger planet
around which it travels.
But what causes the orbit of satel-
lite to contract so as to bring it thus
dangerously near to the central mass it
revolves about? Evidently some OBJ
stacle to motion would be sufficient
something which retarded velocity,
very slightly, it might be, but still
somewhat. An influence of this nature
must be exerted by any substance,
however tenuous or etherial, which
pervades all space, or that part of
space, at all events, to which the stars
and planets belong. Like many other
men of science, Prof. Vaughan assumes
the existence of rare medium of this
sort disseminated throughout all the
known stellar regions; and to its action
of retardation he attributes the trans.
formation of the lost moons of Saturn
into the mighty rings which now en-
circle that planet. Evidence that
resisting medium really exists has been
supplied by tie recent discovery of the
satellites of Mars; and our author de-
clares that not many million years can
elapse before the inner moon, Phob0s,
will have its path so shortened as to be
brought within the atmosphere of the
planet. Then. he says, it's career as a
small secondary world will close with a
meteoric exhibition.
And why may not our own moon
come to an end in the same wayP In
deed, is not such q result extremely
probable2 The same cause must be ef-
fective to check its rate of motion, and
the chief difference between the two
cases would be in point of time. The
few millions of years requisite for the
absorption Of the Phobos would have to
be multiplied by several hundreds to
make up the period which will elapse
before the moon is similarly destroyed.
The occasion will be q grand one, how
ever, for we are told that it will be
signalized by a far greater display of
meteoric effulgence. Dilapidation will
begin before the moon actually touches
the earth; innumerable fragments will,
be hurled off as meteors into our atm o.
phere; and the brilliancy of the scene
will rival the light of the sun. Prof.
Vaughan thinks that only portion of
the moon will be appropriated by the
earth at the first near approach. The
part that is left will haul off, as it were,
into space, to give rise to similar
magnificent outburst some millions of
centuries later, when it again comes
too near.
1t is worthy of note that nothing
whatever is said as to the probable eff
feet of this gigantic convulsion Of Ma
ture upon life on the earth. This omis-
sion may be due to the fact that man
kind can hardly be said to have vital
present interest in the event
just as moon may fall into plan
1t, SO . planet may fall into sun. The
chief difference is in the splendor of the
spectacle. Twenty-three temporary
STARS nave appeared IN the heavens
within the last 1000 years three of
them within the present century. What
has caused them to kindle in the sky
with sudden brilliancy, and then grow
dim and constantly decline in bright
nessp An obvious answer is suggested
by the facts we have already consid-
cred. The mysterious effulgence which
flashes across the universe as the tran
STORY glory of temporary star is the
bale fire of . dying planet. But it may
be asked, Why have we not seen the
star beforea is not strange that the
planets Of other solar systems, which
revolve around stars as their own suns,
should be invisible to us here on the
earth, since they do not shine by their
own light; but ought not the stars
themselves to be seen. since we snip.
pose them to resemble our sun In char