The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-07-26
Our Oliu.
BEYOND THE MILKY WAY.

Ihe countless millions OF stars eompos-
ing the Milky Way appear to be arranged
in the form Of a fat zone, or ring, or
rather stratum, Of irregular shape. Its
extent is so great as properly to form a
universe of itself If it were possible to-
night to wing our flight to any one of the
bright stars which blaze around us, sweep
ing away from our own system until planet
after planet fades 10 the distance, and
finally the sun itself shrinks into n mere
star-alighting on a strange world that
circles around new aud magnificent sun,
which has grown and expanded in our
sight until it blazes with a magnifcence
equal to that Of our own--here let us pause
and look out upon the starry heavens
which now surround US.
We have passed over sixty millions Of
millions Of miles. We have reached new
system Of worlds, revolving about another
sun, and from this remote point we have
a right to expect new heaven, as well as
new earth on which we stand. But no.
Lift up your eyes, and 10 the old familiar
consultations are all there. Yonder blazes
Orion, with its rich and gorgeous belt;
there comes Arcturus, and yonder the
Northern Bear circles his ceaseless Jour
ney around tde pole. All is unchanged,
and the mighty distance over which we
have passed is but the thousandth part Of
the entire diameter Of this grand cluster
Of suns and systems; and although We have
swept from our sun to the nearest fixed
star, and have Travelled distance which
light itself cannot traverse ia less than
ten years, yet the change wrought by this
mighty journey, in the appearance Of the
heavens, is no greater than would be pro-
duced in the relative positions of the per-
sons composing this audience to a person
near its centre, who should change his
seat with his immediate neighbor.
Such, then, is the scale on which the
starry heavens are built. If, in examin.
ing the magnificent orbits of the remoter
planets, and in tracing the interminable
career of some Of the far.sweeping comets
we feared there might not be room for the
accomplishment Of their vast orbits, our
fears are now at an end. There is nc
jostling here there is no interference, nc
perturbation of the planets Of one system
by the suns Of another. Each Is isolated
and independent, filling the region Of space
assigned, and, within its own limits, hold
ing on its appointed movements.
Thus far We have spoken only Of tn,
Milky Way. In case it be possible I,
pierce its boundaries, and pass through
into the regions Of space which lie beyond
tho inquiry arises, what meets the yisioI
there? What lies beyond these might,
limits? Does creation cease with on,
great cluster, and is all blank beyond it
boundary?
Here again the telescope has given u
an answer. When we shall have travele,
outward from our own sun, and passed Il
straight line from star to star, until W
shall have left behind us, in grand per
speetive a series of five hundred suns, W
then stand on the confines Of our owl
great cluster Of stars. All behind blaze
with the light of countless orbs, scattere,
in wild magnihcence, while all before u
Is deep, impenetrable, unbrOkcn darkness.
No glance Of human vision can pierce th
dark profound.
But summoning the telescope to ou
aid, let us pursue our mighty journe,
through space. Far in the distance W.
are just able to discover q faint haze o
light--a minute luminous cloud whiel
comes up to meet us-and towards thi
object We will urge our fight. We leay,
the shining millions of our own great clus
ter far behind Its stars are shrinkin.
and fading; its dimensions arc contracting
IL once filed the whole heavens, and nov
its myriads of blazing orbs could almost
be grasped with single hand. But nov
look forward A new universe, Of aston
ishiDg grandeur, bursts on the sight. Tn,
cloud Of light has swelled aud expanded
and its millions Of suns now ill the Who'll,
heavens.
We have reached the clustering of tel
millions of stars. Look to the right: ther,
is no limit. Look to the left there is n,
end Above, below, sun rises upon sun
and system upon system, in endless ano
immeasurable perspective. Here Is new
universe, as magnificent, as glorious as oul
own--a new Milky Way, whose vast di
ameter the flashing light would not eros,
in a thousand years. Nor is this solitar,
object Go out on clear, cold winter
night, and reckon the stars which streu
the heavens, and count their number
and for every single orb thus visible 10 the
naked eye, the telescope reveals universe
far sunk in the depths Of space, and scat.
tered with vast profusion over the entire
surface Of the heavens.
Some Of these blaze with countless stars
while others occupying the confines Of
visible space, but dimly stain the blue Of
the sky, just pcrceptiblc with the most
powerful means that man can summon "a
the aid Of his vision. These objects are
called clusters and nebulle-clusters when
near enough to permit their individual stars
to be shown by the telescope, nebule when
the mingled light Of all their suns aud
systems can only be seen as the haxy cloud.
Thus have we risen in the orders Of
creation. We commenced with a planet
and is satellite; we rose 10 the sun and It's
revolving planets, magnificent system Of
orbs, all united into one great family, and
governed by the same great law; and we
now find millions Of these suns clustered
and associated together in the formation
OF distinct uniyerses, whose numbers, al
ready revealed to the eye Of man, is not
to be counted by the scores Of hundreds,
but has risen to thousands, while every
increase Of telescope power is adding by
hundreds to their catalogue.
Let us now explain these ''island uni
verses, as the Germans have apily termed
them, aud attempt approximately TO cir
cumseribe their limits, and measure their
distances from us and from each other.
Sir William Hersehel, 10 whom We are
indebted for this department Of astronomy
conceived a plain BY which Il was possible
approximately 10 sound the depths Of
space and determine, within certain limits,
the distance and magnitude Of the clusters
aud nebule within the reach Of his teles.
ecpes. To convey some idea Of his method
Of conducting these most wonderful re
searches, Imagine level plain, Of indefi-
mite extent, and along straight line, sep.
orn nN hsf t..f 4. - :.