The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-02-26
The Ago Of the Earth, According ia
Prof. Proctor.

o1oaco mas gwen us very much more
satisfaotory information a. to space
than to time. We have first the size
OF our own earth to use ~ basis of
measuring the planets around us. To
get an idea how this is accomplished,
picture the earth as q globe one inch in
dismeter, the sun three yards in diane
ter, and the distance between the two
3OOyards. This will conveys 4 much bet
ter idea Of the difference in size between
the earth and the sun than if We dealt
in the stupendous figures which are
actually correct. From this diminutive
sphere astronomers have to survey the
sun and the whole solar system, and it
will readily be seen that the angles
upon which We make our measurements
must be 80 minute that observations
must be most carefully made, for the
smallest error would make q difference
from correct results of many miles.
In measuring time We have no basis
to work upon. II We ever know posi-
lively the ago of the earth our
movements would be greatly facili-
tated. All estimates arc comparatively
doubtful, although geologists tell us
that there are certain conditions in the
crust OF the earth which have taken such
and such terms Of years to form, and
from their deductions think 4 mod
crate estimate of the age of the earth
would be 5OO,OO0,OOO years, and this ia
generally accepted by the most emf
nent geologists. Even this is uncer-
tain, however, a., the changes in the
earth's crust having ali been formed by
the action of the sun, We do not know
that that action has been uniform
throughout all these years. We know
that before the crust formed the earth
was in q molten condition, but finally
cooled off and became solid. Now, sup
posing the molten mass was at heat of
1900 degrees centgrade, and had to
cool down to 200, the highest rate at
which life could exist, it would have
taken, according to scientists, Ut least
$4,000, 900 years; add $4,000, 600 years
for the time during which the earth
was contracting, and then 10O,OOO,OOO
years which the crust has taken to
form, and We have atotal of 100000
years. The solar system as at present
understood corresponds with this idea
OF the age OF the earth: and we work on
the basis that the smaller the planet
the older it is, and in the cooling-otf
process the molten mass contracts and
grows smaller and smaller. The moon
is believed to have passed through all
the stages which tho earth has under
gone, and, being considerably older,
has experienced many changes which
the earth may expect to experience.
Jupiter, on the other hand, being much
larger than the earth, is believed to be
much younger, and it is estimated that
it will not reach the present condition
of the earth for 3,OO0, ,OOO 900 OF years.
We find that Venus, being nearly
our own age, is surrounded by atmos-
phere, and has oceans and seas some
thing like our own, and We may call
her our sister planet. The earth will
constantly get smaller and smaller
until it gets to the size of Venus, and
from that to the size and condition of
the moon. Now, let us see what OBJ
servers have found out about the moon.
We find that it is desert, and as DESC
late pace as can be imagined! It is
covered with craters and seams. and
We find declivities which show signs
OF HAVING 6 been filed by large bodies of
water: They are empty now, however,
and there is no water to be discovered
on the moons surface. It is believed
that this water has retreated into the
bowels of the planet, for the moon is a
planet the same as any other. There
being no atmosphere surrounding it of
itself would render life impossible, and
we may expect that after the lapse of
many millions of years our oceans will
dry up and the earth become uninhab-
table by any living being.