Wichita eagle., 1888-03-22
HEAVENLY BODIES.
PROGRESS WHICH HAS BEEN MADE
IN ASTRONOMICAL SCIENCE.

The Great Change Which Has Taken
Place Since 1soo-Ths Wonders of Our
Own System-Problems Infinite in Num-
Der and Extent.
Looking back TO the year 1900 we are as
tonished at the change. The comparatively
simple science OF tho heavenly bodies known
to our predecessors almost perfect as far as
it went, injurious of what lay behind its
grasp, has developed into body of manifold
powers and parts, each with its separate
mode and means Of growth, full Of strong vi
tally, but animated by restless and IN
satisfied spirit, haunted by the sense Of prob
lens unsolved, and tormented by conscious
Impotence to sound the immensities 1t per-
petually confronts
knowledge might then be said to be
bounded by the solar system; but even the
solar system presented itself under AN aspect
strangely different from that it now wears.
1t consisted Of the sun, seven planets and
twice as many satellites, all circling har-
moniously in obedience to a universal law,
by the compensating action Of which the in
definite stability of their mutual relations
was secured. The occasional incursion Of a
comet, or the periodical presence Of q single
such wanderer chained by planetary or solar
attraction to prevent escape to outer space,
a7ailed nothing to impair the symmetry Of
the ma estic spectacle.
Now, not alone have tho ascertained limits
of the system been widened to 1000, 0OO, 600
of miles, with the addition Of one more giant
planet and six satellites to the ancient classes
,sr hut h. k~n,
given to its constitution battling description
or thought. Two hundred and seventy cir
culsting planetary bodies bridge tho gap be-
tween Jupiter and Mars, tho complete inves-
tigation Of the movements of any one Of
which would overtask the energies Of life
time. Meteorite., strangers apparently to
the Fundamental ordering Of the solar house
hold, swarm, nevertheless, by millions in
every Granny Of its space, returning at regu-
lar intervals like the comets, so silgulerly
associated with them, or sweeping across it
with hypcrbolic velocity brought perhaps
from some distant star. And each Of theee
cosUlical grains Of dust has theory far more
complex than that Of Jupiter it bears within
it the secret Of its origin and fulflls func-
ton in the universe.
TEE SUN AND PLANETS.
The sun itself is no longer . semi-fabulous,
fire grit globe, but the vast scene OF the play
Of forces as yet imperfectly known to u,
Offering a boundless field for the most ardl-
GUS and inspiring researches Among the
planets, the widest variety IN physical habi-
tudss is seen to prevail, and each 10 recoS-
nized Is . world apart, inviting inquiries
which, TO be effective, must necessarily be
special and detailed Even our own moon
threatens to break loose frsm the trannsls
Of calculation, and commit errors which
sap the very foundations Of tbs lunar theory
and suggest the formidable necessity for its
revision Nay. the steadfast earth has for
fsited the iraplici. confidence placed Ia II as q
timekeeper, and questions relating 20 the
stability Of the earth's axis and the constancy
Of the earths rate Of rotation Arc among
those which it behooves the future 70 answer
Every where there is muitifornity and
change, stimulating . curiosity which the
rapid development Of methods Of research
Offers the possibility Of at Least partially
gratifying
Outside the solar system the problems
which demand a practical solution are ell
but Infinite in number and extent And
thoughts within less than 100 years. For
sidereal science became recognized branch
of astronomy only through Hcrscheis dis
covery Of the revolutions Of double stars IN
Is02. Yss already it NAY be, and hAs been
called 'the astronomy of The future, 30 rap
idly has tbs dsvslspnasnt Of . keen and uni
versal interest attended and stimulated the
growth Of power 70 invss0sase shn sublime
subject What has been doae u Httie-is
scarcely beginning; re. it . much in ccn1-
parisen with the total blank Of . osc.1-y
past. And our novi>dss VIII, we are
easily psrsaaAed, appear io tcrn sss nsress
ignrance 20 these who eon1s after 1s. let
il Is 10: to be deSpissd, Eace By it are reach
up grpping fingers to touch tie hem Of the
garment q tie Noss ESh-SsdEsAl xs1en-
gar.