The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-10-09

Such then il the real distance which sep
arates one from tho other of these two con-
joined suns. 1t il . little more than the
distance which separates Uranus from the
sun.
As this space cannot be measured at 30
great distance with absolute precision.
we may take without great error as the
basis Of our conclusions the distance from
the sun and the movement of Uranus.
This planet takes precisely eighty-four
years to accomplish its revolution. Then.
according to the mathematical principles
In use by astronomers. the double sun,
Alpha of the Centaur, turning about its
center of gravity in period equal to that
of Uranus, but its two component parts
being distant from each by q space which
is to the distance of Uranus from the sun
rs "a is to 10, or as 126 is to 100, it results
that the mass of this double sun Is about
twice as great as that of the sun which
shines upon US.
The consequence is that the sun Alpha
Of the Centaur cannot revolve about our
sun with the stowness which We have Just
attributed to the fictive planet which we
have supposed to be circulating around
our sun at that distance. This neighbor-
ence more powerful than that which we
exercise over him. If then the double
sun Alpha of the Centaur formed a sys-
tenn with our sun, they would both re-
volve around their common center of
gravity. situated in space about one-third
of the distance from Alpha of the Centaur
to the sun. in period of So, 0O0, 900 Of years
If the orbit were circular.
If our sun and Alpha of the Centaur ex-
listed alone in space and formed system,
ii is thus that they would gravitate. to-
gether. But such is not the case. The
sun of the Centaur is carried through
space by its own peculiar movement of
~ s,E
through the tour Of the heavens In 353. 600
years, If that were an orbital movement.
As for our own sun, he is not stationary
Is space. He Is marching onward, leading
with him the earth and the whole plane
tary system. His movement has been
recognized by means of the apparent
movement of the stars. When We travel
by railway. with the speed of the new
Pegasus OF modern science through q
country diversified by fields, plains, woods,
hills and villages We seem to see every
form running backward in direction
contrary to that of our own movement.
When we observe the stars with long at
tention We observe an analogous fact in
the celestial objects. The stars appear
animated with motions which seem to be
driving them toward q certain portion of
the heavens. which lie behind US. On
every side of thus they seem to be fleeing
away, while the considerations before rs
seem TO spread out as if to offer rs a
passage through them. Calculation has
proved that these appearances of per-
spective are caused by the translation of
the sun with the earth and all the planets
toward . region Of the heavens marked by
the constellation of Hercules. We Arc
travelling toward this region with a
rapidity which it 10 difficult to determine
with precision. but which appears to be
from l5o. 900 600 to 200. 00o, 900 Of leagues
regions where Sirius shines, and We are
flying to those lighted by the constells-
tions of Lyra and Hercules.
Is this orbit travelled by the sun in space
closed curve? Is he himself revolving
about centerr Is this unk nown center
hxed, or Is II also IN motion from age to
age. causing one sun and all his planets to
describe spirals such as are drawn by the
earth revolving about the sun as he jour-
neys onward through the heavens? Or
does our central orb, which is only a star,
form part of sidereai system, of n num-
Der OF stars animated by some common
| movementr Is there . central sun of the
universef Do the worlds of the infinite
| revosve, a hierarchy about a divine
| altar nameg The flight Of the
modern trsnis has not yet attained
| these transeendent heights. But il Is GER
| tain that the sun IN his course is subject 10
| sdereai influences. veritabge rersurhations
| which cause devlations IN his movement
| and which complicate in unknown ways
| the movement oi our little planet and III
! oil the Others. Some dAy the astrono-
| mers of the planets which revolve in the
| light OF the suns Of Hercules will see lit
| tie star arrive in their heavens This will
be our sun. carrying rs with him in his
| course. Perhaps at this very hour we.
| the dusk OF some siiereal tempest. are en-.
teging upon the milky way which il 10
transform our destinies. We sre hut play.
things in the imsnensi,y Of the Infinite.
The movement proper to themselves
with which ali the stars are anifaates;
proves 10 US also that the suns of space are
travelling in ali directions With consider.
able speed. The analysis Of their neh,
teaches rs tssas these distant suns are So
intensely bos and luminous ~ tie OFT