Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1885-07-09
On Astronomy.
BILL NYE FURTHER DISCUSSES THE WON
DERs OF THE HEAVENS.

There is much In the great field OF astrono-
my that l, discouraging TO the savant who
hasn't the time nor means to rummage around
through the heavens. At times | am almost
hopeless, and feel like saying to the great
yearnful, hungry world: "Grope on forever.
Do not ask me for another scientific fact. Find
II out yourself. Hunt up your own new-aid
planets. and let me have a rest. Never ask
me again to sit up all night and take care OF "A
newborn world while you lie in bed and rcck
not"
] get no salary for examining the trachless
void night after night when ought to be in
bed. sacrifice my health in order that the
public may know, at once, of the presence of
redhot comet, fresh from the factory. And
yet, what thanks do gets
II l. surprising that every little while | con-
template withdrawing from scientific research
to go and skin an eight-mule team down
through the dim vista OF relentless years.
Then. again. you take a certain style OF star,
which you learn from Professor Simon New
comb is Mt such a distance that II takes 30 900
years for Its light to reach Boston. Now, we
will suppose that after looking over the large
stock Of new and secondhand stars, and after
examining the spring catalogue and price list
| decide that one of the smaller size will do
me, and buy it. How do know that 1t was
there when | bought ts lis cold and silent
rays may have ceased i9.Oo0 years before was
born and the intelligence be still on the way
There is too much margin between sale and
delivery. Every now and then another as
tronomcr comes 10 me and say~: Professor.
| have discovered another new star and intend
TO Tile it, Found Il last might about mile and
u half south Of the zenith, running loose.
Haven't heard OF any body who ha, lost a star
of the fifteenth magnitude. about thirteen
hands high with light name and tail, have
you:" Now, how do know that he has di,-
covered brand new star; How can dis
cover whether he is Or i not play ing an old,
thrcadharc star on me for . new one:
We are told that there h.- been no pcrrcpti-
bic growth or decay in the star bu>uc,, since
man began to roam about through space in
his mind, and make figures on the barn door
with red chalk showing the celestial time
table
No serious accidents have occurred in the
starry heavens since began 10 observe and
study their habits. Not a star has waNed. not
star LA, waned t" my knowIe,l-r Not +
planet ht> -ca>on-crackcd or shown any Of TN
injurious effects Of our rigorous climate. Not
star ha, ripened prcmaturey or fallen of
the trees The varni,h on the very oldest
stars | find on close and critical examination
70 b, in splendid condition. They will all no
doubt wear a. lun- A. We need them, ami
wink on lon. after we have cea,cd to wink
back.
In l>,G there appeared suddenly IN thn
northern crown -tar ~ about The third maZ-
nitu,ic and worth at Iea>t so. II wa- ecnrr-
aly conceded by astronomers that ihi, wa, a
brand new tar that hah never been used, but
upon consulting Arg"hndcr'- tar catalogue
anil price lit 1t wa found that this WAS not a
new star at All. but an old faded ont star of the
ninth magnitude. with thc front hrradth-
turned wrong side out and trimmed " ith
moonlight along thc seams.
After few dAy- ~ phcuomrnal brightness.
it gently erased to draw salary star of
the third magnitude. aud walked home with
an ucir Toms Cabin company.
II T. such things a llii~ thai maxi lh' NE ~
The astronomer one ~ constant dt~rouru-ln-
toll. | have bong contemplated, A. / LAY, the
als si>uhiliiy Of retiring from hi field OF -rj-
'ncc and allow Others 10 ll-ht the northern
j-hi-, ,him the milky way nnd 10 other erl"--
tial chor,~ | would 10 it myself chrcrfutly
II my health would permit, hut for YEAR |
have realized. and - has my wifi. that my iu-
tir- a An astronomer Kept M up too much At
night, and my wife j. certainly right about II
when She >nS- II insist on scanning the heaE.
cn- night after night. coming home late with
the cork out OF my telescope and my eye, red
ynd swollen with these cNhau~ting night Nigils.
! will be cut Down in my prime. 50 | am liza
bic To abandon the great labor 10 which had
Intended to devote my lifr. my dazzling genius
aud my princrly income. hope that other
-asant> Will spare me the pain Of another re-
fu,al, for my mind + fully made up that un-
les another ,kimmi-t j. AZ once secured, the
milky way will hcuccforth remain un>kum.