The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-02-02
THE CRASM or TORLDs


as constantly ovorcumee tins tendency
and is believed t. bc drawing the rings
closer and closer Tho Hus-ian astrono.
MGR Otto Siruvo has predicted that in loss than
two centuries tAe inner rifs viii rc5ch the
planet AMI hr united VIII IT, Wilr his views
are not accepted hy au Observers. the faot is
conceded that Lrcat changes arcEoing ON In the
eirde Of Saturn, ana there atr strong REASONS
10 conclude that the matter OF winch 1t is mudc
up once moved In II larger circle Than II now uc.
cupes.
This conclusion Ia the bnss Of paper CON
trhutcd by Prof. Daniel Vaughan 10 the l0.t
number Of the TopviW Science NonHiy. In which
come interesting If not startling propositions
are advanced.
Various opinions have been entertained ns to
the constitution Of the Saturniun rings. Whlc
they can hurlly be wholly gaseous or liqud.
there is difficulty in regarding Thorn IA CONF
posed OF solid matter. sin'c but few solids are
known which would endure the violent couyui-
sons that frequently disturb the great circles.
1t Is suggested in this paper that thc principal
constituent may hn water at a temperature
near the freezing point. In that ease. the cone
slant tendency 10 freeze would slightly ov"r-
come the destructive forces and would account
for such changes OF form rs are revealed by the
telescope. OF course These changes could mot
60 on without heat from some source. Ant 70 is
assumed that q sufficient quantity ia evolved
mechanically 10y the connections Themselves.
There seems 10 he no doubt however. thu,
tho rings OF Saturn nre such stun as moons
are made Of. but the question is whether
this material is 10 form moons In the fu-
ture or has already performed its function
in this respect by forming moons in the
past? Pro-. Vaughan adopts q view which
indicates his belief that the planet has already
entered upon the later stages of lie ic lie
THINKS tho two rings wero formerly two
satellites revolving about Saturn Ia Il wider
zone. ACKNOWLEDGMENT and n conversion into
u ring. he says. must be the general fate OF every
planetary body land moon isa planetary bodyl
which by n slow contraction Of the paih IN which
1t moves reyolves ut last too close To- ~ primary
that is. too close 10 tho larger planet around
which 1, travels.
But what causes the orbit Of a satellite to con
tract 50 ms TO bring 1t thus dangerously nenr to
the central mass it reyolvcs about? Evidently
some obstacle 10 motion would be SUN 'icut-
something which retarded velocity. very slight
ly. 1t might bc. but stu somewhat. An inlu-
encc OF this nature must be- eXcrted by any SUBJ
stance. however tenuous or wthcrial, which
pcrvndes all spnce. or that part OF srare. ~ all
events. 10 which the stars and planets belong.
Like many other men OF science Prot. Vaughan
assumes the existence of rarc medium % this
sor. disseminated throughout all the known
stellar regions and to its action Of rctarlaiion
he attributes the transformation OF the lost
moons OF Saturn into the mighty rings which
now encircie that planet Evidence TINT re-
sisting medium really exists has been supplied
by the recent discovery OF the satellites OF Mars.
and our author declares that not many million
years can apse before tho inner moon. Pho
hos, will have its path 50 short ned us 10 De
brought within the atmosphere of the planet
Then. he says. lis curcc; ms Il small secondary
world will close with mvteorc exhibition.
And why may not our own moon como 10 m
end In the same way; Indeed. is not such a
result extremely probable? The same cause
must be- effective to cheek It's rate o, motion.
and the chief difference between the two cases
would he in point ot timo. The Few millions OF
years requisite FOR the absorption of Pholos
would have 70 he multiplied hy several hun
drods 20 make W the period which WILL clarsc
before tho moon is similarly destroyed. TIE
OCCASION will be grind one. however. for
we arc told that il will be- siguaiznl by
far greater display Of metcori, rnulsenr'.
Duapdato on will begin before the moon actu-
ally touches the Garth: innurnrahlc fragments
viii be hurled OF as m"teors into our Htmos-
phere; AMI the hrilun.y % tHe r'ue wi.
r.v.l the ieDf oi tl sun. Prof VAUGHAN
A4l+tlN0 wac NitNf % l''tt.''4 90 t' li4 1000 Nf
appropriated hy th' earth 40 il' 'r-tu""r up-
proH h. The part That H. lc't w'll hou No. ms 10
wcre. into space. 10 give ris" 20 n similar mag
nih"'W ouihHTs' som" millions OF centuries
later. when 1t again comes goo near.
II is worthy Of not" that nothing whatever Is
said as to the probable Ell et OF tais gigantic
eonvulsion OF nature upon iiie on the earth.
This omission may De due 10 the fact TINT man
kind can hardly he said to have a vital present
interest In tho event
Just as moon may fal. into planet 40
planet may la.i INTO sun. The 'Al"i d.n"r-
ence Is in the spl"ndor Of the sp' i.cl'.
Tweniy-threo temporary stars have appeared
In the heavens Within the !ast two thousand
years-throa OF them within the present con-
fury What Inns cnn7"d them 10 kindIe in the
SKY with sudden br'.ian'l ana then grow dim
ana constantly decline 100 ur.eitr"7~t An oh-
vlous answer ~ suggested hy 'h" 'n 'ts w' lov'
already considered Ihcm !si'ri'u-' li1 g. nee
which FLASHES across the universe a- 10" tfaas.-
tory glory OF " temporary star Is ue udo FIR"
OF dying planet. lNf 10 may los asked. why