The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-02-08

| COuiO Bo ulskiDgus5u6u lIOc1 jun
ones. It is an established fact tbs
small bodies cool more rapidly thai
large ones; and it therefore follow
that the large planets are younge
and the small planets older, becsus
large ones are sloWest in cooling, ant
in becoming fitted for condition o
life than sGsller ones. Supposinl
them all to havsbeen created at once
the larger ones would still be thu
younger because of the greater length
of time which they retain heat. snc
therefore the greater sloWness with
which they develop and decay.
The sun was in the youngest stage
lit was the most youthful of all the
planets, being entirely formed Of
vspor. It was not such vapor 8:
surrounds our planet, Watery, but a
metallic vspJr. All the elements
which form our earth, iron, zinc,
aluminium, gold, copper, etc., exist,
but in the midst OF heat so terrific
that they are held in q vapory form;
ami if there is q surface there for rain
to fell upon, the drops which fall are
metallic. The size OF the sun is l ,250, :
600 times that of tie earth. The fret
stage of planetary existence being
described, the lecturer next turned to
the giant planets Jupiter, Il, 200 times
as large as they earth) and its brother
planet. Saturn, together with Uranus
and Neptune, as being instances of
the second stage. The same point
was made with regard to Saturn
which he considered the most beauti-
ful object in the heavens. Taking
these two planets as examples he ex-
pounded the theory that as the plan.
etsry bodies increase in age they de.
crease in size. That their real bodies
are not as large as they appear he
demonstrated by the experiments Of
astronomers, who had noticed on
several occasions while watching the
satellites of Jupiter, that a moon
which had started across tne disc of
the planet apparently receded and
showed itself to be free of contact.
By the laws which govern the
heavenly bodies this retrog1ade move
ment was clearly impossible, and
hence, the conclusion that a luminous
atmosphere surrounded the interior
mass and. perhaps, a second atmos.
phere, and by the rifing or violent
disturbing Of this luminous mass the
satellite had appeared to 60 back
ward. Again. another observer,
watching satellite, found he could
see it for some little time after it had
passed around behind the planet.
These things had determined to the
lecturers satisfaction that whatever
the interior mass might be it was sur
rounded by luminous clouds, giving it
the appearance of being much larger
than il really is. The shape Saturn
sometimes assumes was also an evil
dence showing the existence of the
luminous cloud of atmosphere. It
at one time shows quite oval and at
another what ia known as the square.
sHouldered shape. If these changes
were made in the planet itself in 30
short time, the commissions would
be so terrific as almost to disrupt it,
and that they do not is conclusive
that the change must be in the form
of the surrounding atmosphere.
Venus vas next shown as being-so
far as astronomers can determine
in about the sane condition as our
earth. But it is a planet of which
little can be learned. owing to the in
tense brightness of its surrounding
atmosphere. Views OF Mars and
Mercury were also exhibited.
The moon was also referred to as
one OF the oldest planets, and was in
the last or death stage. The lecture
WAS illustrated by magnificent stere-
opticon views thrown OH a screen at
the back of the stage, where all could
see them, and they served to assist
not only the speaker in explaining
but the listener in comprehending
the merit OF the subject. In con-
Guiding the lecture Professor Proctor |
quoted from an English translation of
one OF the pieces of the German poet
Jean Paul Richter, which told
in beautiful language, of the eternity
of time, OF the boundlessness ofspsce,
and of the ininity OF the stars. Once
during the lecture the audience
laughed, and that was the only time
it was intended they should do 30;
and at the conclusion TIE audience
gave hearty burst OF applause.
Mr.. Proctor is inclined to be sho-t
and stout, has an English appearance
and an English accent. The r mark
able feature of the lecture was its
ersp'cuity; ard it was the more
striking as 1t was on subject usually
SO dry and so difficult of satisfactory
comprehension. In the hands OF this
great astronomer, however, the
subject became strikipgly interesting,
and the audience sat all through in
almost wraps attention. One thing
that Was especially pleasing to the
audience was where he referred
to the predictions of astrolcgers
who asserted that owing to the
position OF the planets this
yeer, pariIt ulsrly during June,
dire disas'er would follow. He states
WITH Ell the confidence he possesses
that such theory las as little foun-
datlon i'll reason this year as it ever
had - that was, ii had no
reason; and be was surprised that,
with The experience OF the world,
people would still become frightened
over these ressonless predictions. The
lecture was inierspersed with bits of
interesting information respecting
the progress made in the science of
astronomy, which relieved it OF any
monotony, il any could have been
experienced. Il is said that there is
no royal road to learning, but with
such a clear and thorough explainer
for an instructor, as Prof. Proctor, the
study of astronomy would almost give
the lie to the proverb.
Tonight the lecture ia The Life
and Desth OF Worlds," aud it is Ger
tain to be largely attended.