The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-09-22

Montgomery
Probably there Is no more interesting de-
partment of meteorological science than that
relating to those strange and mysterious
bodies termed aerolites and meteors. They
suddenly appear to blaze forth, like a rocket,
or fire-ball, quickly traversing across con-
siderable portion Of the sky, Illuminating
for a moment the region over which they
pass, and then they are gone. No one knows
how OF when these fiery objects originated,
or from whence they come. A thousand diff
ferent theories and speculations have been
advanced by learned scientists and philoso-
pliers but the wonderful process by which
their form and shape was moulded, and their
use and destination in the economy OF the
universe, is yet shrouded in the mystery OF
the unknown. Some suppose they are mas
ses of matter from the depths of the earth's
interior; that have been thrown out by the
powerful action of volcanoes. Others think
they are the smaller fragments of some large
planet, which, countless ages ago, burst
asunder by some frightful collision and
! that they have been coursing round the sun
ever since until crossing the orbit or path
! OF the earth az time when it was passing
| near they came within The limits Of its at
| traction, and were drawn from their course
/ to it and the friction Of the earth's atmos-
! phere, as they entered it at a rapid rate
/ heated them until they became glowing In
! candescent masses. Some believe they are
/ thrown from volcanoes on the moon; and
| having reached a point beyond the limits of
/ its attraction, some Of them come within the
| attractive influence of the earth, and are
| drawn to It, as In the theory given above.
Another theory is, that innumerable millions
! OF them are constantly traversing the bound
! less regions Of space. and that the principal
! part of those which come within the sphere
| Of the earth's attraction are burned up and
! dissipated ov the heat generated by passing
| through the atmosphere but that nothing
IS really lost or annihilated and they de-
! scend to the earth in the form of a fine dust
! OF infiHtesimaI powder: and It has been
! thought that a half ton of this "star dust 4"
falls upon the earth's surface every day. II
this theory be correct the earth must be
| gradually growing larger and larger from
! year to year and though few centuries
/ might not make any perceivable difference,
| a hundred millions Of years might bring
/ about a considerable change. Some think
! comets are formed of a number or large me-
\ teOrs, which have been drawn together by
| attraction and that some time, in some dis
| tant future, they may become planets, adapt
/ co to the wants Of intelligent beings, and the
various forms Of both animate and inanimate
life. They argue that the earth has passed
| through these same preparatory stages that
It was a mass OF meteOrs, then a comet, and
then primary world. Another hypothes
to account for meteoric origin, is that they
have some time raised from the earth's sur
face, in the form OF gases or exhalation /;
that by mutual attraction the minute par
ticles collected in vapory clouds or masses,
and soidifying in the upper regions Of the
atmosphere, descended TO the earth in their
! developed gravity alone. Others conjecture
| that they are dimiGutive satellites, which
have revolved round the world for ages, as
the world revolves round the sun.
Such are few Of the many different theo-
ries and speeulations advanced by learned
astronomers and philosophers. We do not
wish to say that they are all without fonnda-
tiOn, because we do not know but some of
them appear to present objections which we
cannot well get over by any known mode Of
reasoning, and we cannot make the theory
plain until we can. II they proceed from
1
tions, they would. unless governed by some
different law than any with which we are
are acquainted, descend like any other fall.
ing body. Instead of this, they move with
much greater velocity than any such force
could impart to them and instead Of de-
scending in verticle direction, toward the
centre Of the earth, as all other falling bodies
| do, they often move in almost horizontal
direction. No known currents of the atmos-
phere could change the course of heavy
falling body TO this extent, and we wait for
more and stronger evidence in support of
these theories. If they are satellites revol-
wing round the earth, their rate of motion
| could not be less than FIVE miles per second
or more than seven. If their velocity was
iess than five miles per second, they would
fall to the earth and if it was greater than
seven, they would recede fom it; flying
away into the unlimited regions of space,
never to return. Now the velocity'of mete-
ors and aerolites is often much greater than
either Of these figures, and if they are satel-
lites the principles Of centrifugal force and
attraction must govern them in a manner not
easily understood.
The theory that they have been elected
from volcanoes on the moon also has many
serious objections, which we have not space
at present to describe besides most astron-
omers are agreed that the moon has long been
dead and barren planet; and her former
volcanoes have long since ceased their action.
The conjecture that they are the fragments
OF some disruptured planet is probably more
! gronddless than either of the others Mans
works may and often do collide and smash :;
but Gods works are not made thus. They
are perfect and they do not get behind
time and come in collision like two railway
trains. They are governed by fixed and
eternal laws and be assured the mighty
worlds of the universe are not running at
random. Such a collision of worlds would
probably break the nicely adjusted balance
of others, and the star system would go down
in wreck and ruin.
One Of the most noted meteOrs of modern
times was the Weston meteor; so called on
account of the town of that name In the
/ southwestern part OF Connecticut, over
| which it passed December IA, 1907, 1t ap-
| peared nearly half as large as the full moon,
/ and was exceedingly brilliant For brief
/ moment, as it swept majestically across the
| clOudless sky, it presented a sublime specta-
I Gle. Suddenly it burst to fragments and
three heavy reports, like the discharge of
artillery, shook the ground. A great num-
Der Of lesser explosions Immediately ensued.
and the heavy rumbling sound rolled away