The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-04-20
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Wonders of Astronomy.

Last evening Prof. Chandler of Biddeford
gave very interesting lecture at Congress St.
NJ. z. Church Though it rained hard a large
audience was present The first part Of the
lecture was devoted to an explanation of the
unerring clock work of the solar system. The
relative size of the sun and planets was con-
sidered. OF all the latter Mars most closely
resembles the earth. Jupiter and Saturn give
little light of themselves, and doubtless are
cooling from the condition of a sun to that of
the temperature of our globe. The suns
enormous size and distance were considered
and his physical features described He is sur
rounded by various envelopes. First, there is
the nucleus; second, the photosphere, which is
tho bright visible surface; third, is the
ohromosphere consisting mainly of incan-
descent hydrogen; fourth, the corona; ffth
the halo. The theory of contraction best ac-
counts for the method whereby the enormous
amount of light, heat and electricity are main
tanned. By spectrum analysis we learn even
the very elements of which the sun is CON-
posed, aud they are largely similar to those of
this earth. Hence the main difference be-
tween the sun and earth is in size and degree
of temperature. The "spots'' are probably
cavities in the philosophers, caused by change
of temperature. They are very numerous the
present year and such is the case every eleven
years. There seems some analogy betwe cen
them and the condition of our weather. The
sun is probably neither solid nor liquid, but
gaseous, and yet the gas has SO great density
that its behavior is something like that of a
dense liquid The sun is the source of all
energy, life and motion, and without it no
form of life could be maintained here but very
few days.
The transit of Venus was explained as it
will appear next December, and it will then
afford one of the best methods to learn the
suns exact distance. Tides and eclipses were
finely illustrated
The moons condition was considered and
its barren landscape scenery presented. It
now is destitute of air, water and every form
ofaniaal and vegetable life. Its surface is
covered with extinct volcanic eraters many of
which are of enormous dimensions. It may
once have teemed with some forms of life,
but now has arrived at condition of desola-
tion that may be eternal.
Comets received a share of attention. They
consist of highly attenuated luminous gas ex-
cept that large ones may have a small solid
nucleus. There is no occasion for alarm of
ones ever iniurIng the earth by collision, but
should very large one plunge into the sun
the effect might be disastrous to every living
thing on earth, by stirring up the solar energy
to excessive activity. The cause of the dark
day of September 7th last year was explained
on the principle of atmospheric absorption, as
some of the rays in the solar spectrum were
cut off.
The bright auroral display of last Sunday
evening was referred to, and no doubt was of
an electrical nature. There may be SYM
pathy between such phenomena and the pre-
sent condition of the sun.
The lecture was listened to with close at
tention, and great interest WAS manifested.
Mr.. Chandler lectures again this evening at
Williston church, and no doubt he will have
another large audience.