Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-08-06
FACTS ABOUT THE SUN.
1t is Not so Large as 1t Seems when Com
pared With Arcturus Which is $4,000
Times Larger.
Scientific American

|
There are three well -defned classes of
stars, judged by the quality of light they
yield. In the first class are the clear white
and blush white stars like Sirius and
Vega.
These are supposed to be the hottest stars
and most luminous in proportion to the
extent of their surface. Then there
are the golden yellow or pale orange stars,
of which Arcturus and Capella are fine ex-
ampes.
These have begun to cool. Finally, we
have the deep orange and red stars like
Aldebaran and Antares. These have
advanced still further in the cooling pro-
cess.
Now the spectroscope informs us that
our sun belongs to the orange or Arcturus
| type, and if we could view it from distant
space we should see a lovely star of pale
golden yellow.
The question arises, then, how far would
our sun have to be removed in order to
shine with brightness no greater than
that of Arcrurus?
According to Mr.. MaundeT, it would
have to be removed to 100000, times its
present distance or about half the distance
between us and pha Centauri.
But Arcturus is Ii 500, 900 times as far
away as the sun. and if gu. su nwere placed
at that enormous distance its diameter
would have to be 80 times as great in
order to give a light equal to that recorded
| from Arcturus.
| hesitate to present such figures, imply
| ing magnitudes tar beyond any to which
we have been accustomed, yet they are
but the logical deductions of observed
! facts.
In other words upon Mr. Maunder's
reasonable assum ption, Arcturus must be
gigantic sphere, $4,000 times larger
than our sun with diameter of 10000 900
miles, or more than large enough to Eli the
entire orbit OF Mercury.
To take this contrast clearer let US insti-
tute simple comparison. Jupiter Is larg-
er than all the other planets and satellites
of the solar system.
The sun is little more than 900 times
larger than Jupiter; but Arcturus, if our
information is correct is $4,000 times
larger than the sun.
By the side of such a majestic orb our
sun, grand and overwhelming as it is in
our own system, would dwindle to an in
significant star.
Contemplating a world so vast endowed
with such mighty energies, and rushing
with such resistless force though the great
deeps of space, we cannot resist the ques-
tons: Whence came this blazing world?
Whittier it is bound? What is its mission
and destiny?
1t is simply a visitor to our sidereai
galaxy, rushing furiously through it like a
comet? Il is being constantly fed and en-
larged by the worlds it encounters and the
neteoric matter it gathers up in its won
derful journey?
What would be the effect if it CHANGED to
pass through the nebula or a star cluster?
Was the new star which suddenly blazed
forth in the nebula of Andromeda in 1876
due to similar cause?
As this mighty aggregation of attractive
energies sweeps along his celestial path,
thickly bordered with stellar worlds, how
many of those worlds will yield forever to
his disturbing forces?
How many will be swerved from their
appointed courses by his irresistible
power? How many will plunge into his
fiery bosom and be swallowed up as a peb-
BILE is swallowed up by the ocean?