Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1891-03-07

suns, then it must overwhelm its at
times as intense as the solar heat that is
poured upon the earth. This results
from the fact that the distance of the dark
companion from Algol is only about
one thirtieth of the earth's distance from
the sun, while the intensity of light and
heat varies lnversely as the SOU +. of
the distance.
Auother star that has a close compan-
ion which, although itself invisible, re-
veals its presence by the effects of its
attraction upon its brilliant neghbor is
Spica, the leader of the constellation
Virgo, and one of the most beautiful
stars in the heavens. Here there is no
such cipsing of the light of Spica by
the dark attendant as occurs with AL
gol, and the data thus far obtained are
far less complete than those of the last
named star. 1t would seem, however,
that in this instance also, the planet,
if planet it be, is of enormous dimen-
sion and revolves very close to its
primary, the distance being estimated
at from 100000 to 100000 miles.
foot of Orion, has also given indica-
tions that it has a close and invisible
satellite of as yet unknown dimensions.
1t has long been known that Procyon,
another first magnitude star, has an in
visible companion, and, with the new
methods of research, something may be
learned of its size and distance. We do
not here refer to the recent discoveries
concerning Mia in Ursa Major, and
Beta Auriga, because the companions
of those stars, situated at distances of
140, 600, 600 miles and s 1000, 900 miles, re-
spectively, are luminous bodies and con-
seouently can not resemble planets in
their physical conditions although tile
doctrine of celestial evolution teaches
that eventually they may pass from the
solar into the planetary state by the eX-
haustion of their radiations.
1t will be noticed that in every case
the dark bodies discovered among the
stars, which by stretch of the imagi-
nation may be likened to planets, are Of
great magnitude as compared with the
planets of our solar system. This may
not be as serious an objection to their
habitability as their nearness to their
primaries is; and yet, according to our
terrestrial experience, a globe $4,000
times as heavy as the earth and 100
times as great in diameter would make
a strange abode. On such globe an
average son of Adam would weigh not
less than 700 or 800 pounds, unless his
dimensions were proportional to the in
tensity of the gravity, in which case he
would be only between a foot ard Is
inches tall.
1t is more agreeable, however, to sup
pose that some unthought of peculiarity
in organization, such as the slight dens-
ity of the planet readily suggests, would
enable the man to be at the same time
imposing in stature and graceful and
agile in movement, for the Imagination
finds something repugnant in the idea
of a race of lively pigmies constituting
majestic proportions
At no time in its history has the out
look for astronomical discovery been
more promising than it is at present, so
that one can hardly be too sanguine in
expecting that these recent advances
which have partially lifted the veil
from the inner mysteries of the starry
systems, are but preludes to still more
interesting discoveries which may re-
veal the existence of unmistakable
planets rejoicing in the light and smil-
ing with life as our earth rejoices and
smiles