The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-05
EARrA, SUN AND STARS.
Wonderful and Interesting Facts From
the Late Prof. Proctor's Latest Work.

Wonderful and Interesting Facts From
the Late Prof. Proctor's Latest Work.
From, the London Standard.
Modern astronomers have not neglected the
earth. They have not only measured our globe
they have weighed 1t, and the tonnage takes
twenty lone figures for its expression. That is
to say, the sum total goes into the middle OF
the trons. Then follow the measuring and
weighing of the solar system. Light, proceed
ing with 1000 times the velocity of the earth
in its orbit, gives rs some idea OF distance.
when we earn that the flight from the sun to
our globe occupies rather more that eight min-
utes. sound travelling IN air would
require above fourteen years to
cred as a luminary, the sun has an intrinsic lus-
ter between three and four times greater than
that OF the electric light when the latter Is at
its brightest. The molten metal In Bessemer
converter is 900 times fainter than the light OF
the sun. AS for the solar heat. It's production
appears to be yet somewhat of mystery II
the sun were all coal, and that OF the best quail
ity, the entire mass-if emitting the heat now
, set forth-would be burned up in less than 5000
years. Nevertheless, we are told that the sun
may be depended upon for a few millions Of
years In the future, though not for tens Of mil
lions. We may accept the lesser period as suf-
fcienJ for Ordinary purposes, although the sun
Is likely g. be OF little service for some time be-
fore be quite goes out.
In relation to our great luminary, as well as
TO celestial objects generally, the Spectroscops
and the Photographic camera have proved
Invaluable adjunCls TO the telescope. They
have rendered special assistance in calculating
the real nature Of the ros Tinted border OF
light, and the red prominences bursting forth
from 1t, seen TO encircle the sun at the time Of
the total eclipse. Tue very existence OF these
prominences was tho subject of doubt down TO
1872, and 10 some degree even Us recently as
1908, when spectroscoplc analysis vas first ap-
Piled to their examination. But now We have
absolute proof that the great globe Of the sun
q gnFronuuad nv deem LAYER of color I'd mat
ter, whence enormous protuberanCe5 start
out, composed Of glowing gas principally
hydrogen, the radiant columns attaining, ia
some instances, TO such hight that ten OF our
worlds might be piled. one upon another, witnlu
the mass, and yet fall snort OF the summit In
1850 photography was FIRST employed 70 secure
views Of the corona the aureOle OF light when
is seen to surround the sGn during total
eclipse The inner corona IS considered que 70
the presence OF tenu0us and di1use gases vary
ing from time 70 time in their lumlnoaity, ana
rising TO a hight OF about 100000 miles. But
there is an outer corona OF much greater OK =
tent, apparently connected with meteorc and
cometic matter. Further away stu we have
the zodiacal light, seen IN this latitude as
sla ling column in the western horizon after
sunset 10 the spring Of the year.
Passing from the suns immediate surround
ings, we are introduced to the region where it
has been thought possible for planet TO circu-
late ich has not been detected. The iiea las
been founded on certain uneX plain IRREGULAR
tbs In tae movements OF the PLANET Mercury.
But the existence Of ths hypothetical Vulcan
is now discreditrd, and the peculiar NJ ton ex-
bibited by tie orbit OF Mere JrY Is attributed to
the presence between that planet the sun Of
mu ,ttudnous una bodies, Individually tnvisi-
BILE some of these may be OF several tons, or
even hundre ds Of tons, in mass; yet considered
with reference 10 6ae enormous region they c.
cnpy. they are but as planetary dust SDecu-
ation has also been rife as TO whet ar Venus
D. a. a satellite and although proof ia wanting,
observations are on record witch maze denial
difficult.
Our own planet may be studied in detail. The
history Of the earth is measured b. millions OF
yesEs, and Mr.. Proctor has yentured TO predict