New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-31

nIanotion Of Earth measurements by trlangula-
ton after which the lecturer discussed the
different methods OF obtaining celesIiai uiS-
tances by means of observations on the velocity
of light and by observations of transits anu
here Professor Young gave, as lar Oh was pos
slble, an explanation of and the results Oh his
own observations of the transit Of Venus taken
hardly month before. In the second lecture
upon "The Sum-" subject OF which no 'iVihE
astronomer has more intimate knowledge tnah
Professor Young, after an clog tent Description
of the Sun as the handspring ana cause Vi a,i
power and activity upon the Earth he set lo'th
Hemholz's theory of che cansatlon 0t tie GUN
heat by contraction, alluded to liuggins re-
cent photographs of the Suns corona, explained
the pyrheliometer and holometer with the anu VI
diagrams thrown upon screen, anu tooA up
Mr. Rutherfurd's photographs and Secchis anu
Langley's photographs of sun spots, with us
cusson of their distribution and an expiaha-
ton of the solar spectra and the prOuberances On
the SUM- The third lecture dealt with EcilpseS
OF the Sun and Moon, presenting the aslrO-
nomical value of solar eclipses in afording an
opportunity to study the question OF intra -Mer-
curial planets closer to the SUN than Mercury,
and the solar prominences. In few words
there was given the result OF observations oi
the SUMS corona taken at eclipses from 1891 10
1878, and the lecturer expressed hope, when
Congress would do well to heed, that the Ma
tional Government should mako some proVI-
sion for observations of the eclipse which VIII
occur next May. A consideration of the sur
face of the Moon and recent changes IN lunar
crateIs formed the remainder OF the iectuie'
The fourth lecture, upon The Planetary oys-
tenn embraced clear explanation oil the
Planetary orbits-elliDtic and byperoollc-oi
Bodies law aud the relative distances OF the
planets, and of the apparent orbits az Jupiter
aud Saturn, with, in addition, an admirable
r6sume of the latest knowledge relative 10
Mars. Jupiter, and the rings OF Saturn, ana
summinc IN of tho theories in regard To the
genesis of tho solar system. The lecture OF last
night dealt with "MeteOfs and Comets" and
that to be delivered Oh next Tuesday evening -
the last of the cOurse-wlll treat OF Inc
Fixed Stars and NeUulB.'
Vast as each OF these subjects is in itself, Pro-
fessor Young has skilfuIly chosen the salient
points, and the accompanying diagrams nave
proved 10 ready assistance, where assistance
was needed, TO his lucid explanations. The high
merit of these lectures has become apparent
TO every reader of THE TRIBUNE. Their edu-
catIona influence and worth rs means OF DIS
seminatng fresh and accurate scientific kno"l-
edge. cuuched in popular language, have been
generally appreciated. Their publication IN
full in The TRIBUNE with the necessary dla-
grams is another evidence that The Tribune
always presents It's readers with tie fullest ana
latest intelligence OF scientific thought and
activity. Recognizing the permane Mt value or
these lectures. they are TO be collected III
fu,u better adapted for preservation than the
pages of a daily paper, and The TRIBUNE will
shortly publish the entire series Of lectures III
one of it's popular Extras, carefully revised and
thoroughly corrected by Professor Young hlm-
self. In such form these lee ures Will he indus
pensable to every ono who wishes to Keep
abreast of the current of scientific movement