Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1893-11-02
A New Discovery in Astronomy.


The following interesting communica-
ton appeared in the San Francisco Cali:
To the Editer OF the Call-Sir: | desire
to give some brief account OF Il very i'm
portant discovery which has lately been
made at the Lick Observatory by Professor
Campbell. His paper containing the
technical details has just been sent to the
scientific journals, and it is proper time
to give more popular account.
Our knowledge regarding the stars has
long needed the addition of one fact. One
question has hitherto remained unan-
swered namely: What are the actual di-
mension of the stars. or of any one star?
The distance of number OF stars are
quite accurately known, considering the
difficulties of the determination. The
masses OF Il few states are known, and
these masses are not very different from
the suns mass. They are at least Of the
same general order OF magnitude. The
chemical constitution OF many OF the stars
is we'll known from spectroscopic observa-
ton. The motions of many stars in the
lire OF sight-joining the earth and the
star-are also we'll known from similar
observations, and their motions in direc-
tions at right angles to the line of sight
are known from observations made with
meridian instruments.
Tor In
tanccs of stars in general and the COM
paratively small amount of light OF each
star, it must be admitted that much has
already been learned regarding them
One datum is still lacking. What are their
actual dimensions? OF what is the actual
diameter of any one star? This question
has been hitherto unanswered, and it is q
capital one. AZ the stars in general are
of the same order OF mass as the sun, it is
to be presumed that they are also OF the
same order of size. But it is question
needing solution.
A very ingenious method for doing this
has been invented, and it will probably
be tried at Monnt Hamilton. 1t is so deli
cate, however, and beset with so many
practical difficulties that while the prin-
ciple OF the method is entirely correct,
success in its practical application is very
doubtful.
The question has, however, been solved
by Professor Campbell for one star in an
unexpected way in the course of his spec
troscopic observation. The principle en-
ployed by him has previously been APP.
piled with reference to the sun in the
same manner. The solar atmosphere
contains many different substances SO
highly heated rs to give ont light. These
substances are arranged in the suns at
mosphere in the order Of their densities,
the heavier ones lower and the lighter
ones higher. The lenght of the spectral
lines of each substance tells the height
to which it extends This observation is
not very difficult in the solar spectrum.
but it was entirely unexpected when Pro-
lessor Campbell found star ID. NJ. 80
deg, 3639) with Il bright line spectrum
surrounded by an an atmosphere OF hy-
drogen gas OF such enormous extent Us to
be measurable.
This hydrogen sphere surrounding the
solid nucleus OF the star is five seconds Of
arc in angular diameter When the dis
lance OF the star is known (and observa
ton to this end are in progress) this ang-
ular diameter can be expressed in miles.
Then for the first time we shall know the
actual dimensions of one OF the fixed stars.
This discovery OF Professor Campbe!l's is
absolutely unique, and it opens an en-
tirely new field of knowledge. 1t is so
important that it should be known at
once. Very respectfully. Edward S
Holden. Lick Observatory, Oct. Is 1898.
Experiment In Signaling.
An interesting experiment will be made