Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-08
VISIBLE TO THE EYE.
The Stars i'm This IsIct I'm the InGnity
of Space.
From Chambers Journal.

From Chambers Journal
Only as far back as the seventeenth GEN.
fury astronomers placed the number of
stars in the universe as little over 1909;
but this was absurd, as the real number
visible to the naked eye is about 1000; and
perhaps treble that number can be seen by
persons with exceptionally good eyesignt.
When the heavens, however, are examined
through telescope, the number of visible
stars is enormously increased: in fact, il
has been calculated that the great Lick
telescope, the most powerful yet made, re-
veals as many as lO0.OOO,Oo0! Yet what is
that vast number compared with infnity?
1t cannot even be Dkened to grain of
sand on the seashore.
And yet. If we think the matter out care
fully, we shall see that the number of WIS.,
ible stars cannot really be infinite, for IL
they were, the heavens would be complete
blaze of light. This, of course, we know,
is far from being the case; and, indeed,
there cannot be any doubt that, in certain
parts of the heavens at least, the number
of visible stars is already known, for even
with the very strongest telescopes there
are blank spaces, which are absolutely de-
void of stars below a certain magnitude,
or even the veriest trace of nebulous light.
All astronomers, or nearly all, appear to
admit an ultimate limit to the size of the
visible universe; or in other words believe
that the galaxy of worlds which surround
form, in fact, but an islet in the vast
infinity of space.
1t would appear at first sight that any at
tempt to solve the question of the exist
ence of external galaXies and their dis
lance was absolutely futile; yet such is not
the case. Some astronomers maintain that
certain of the nebulae-such as the Magel-
Ian Cloud, for instance-are really external
gaiaXies. We have no mathematical evil
dence, however, to arrive at the distance
OF these visible objects and in all proba-
thew belong n Ia nd
are no farther distant than the fainter
stars. Profs. Lambert, Herschel Gore
Proctor aud others have formulated an in
genious hypothesis as to the distance of
external galaXies.
BY a theoretical system of proportion
based on a thoroI gh foundation of known
facts, they assume that the diameter of
the solar system Is to the distance between
solar systems as the diameter of the
sidereal universe is to the distance between
universes. The result of this calculation is
that the nearest external universe is so far
distant that light from II, travelling at the
speed Of $4,000 miles a second, would take
nearly 90o0O,0O0 years to reach as!
The human mind is incapable OF grasping
such an awful distance; but mathematical
calculations show us that, even supposing
that the external universe was the same
size as ours, 1t would only appear as a tiny
speck OF nebulous light. 1t is doubtful
however, whether even light could reach us
from such q distance; the luminous ether
may be unable to pierce through strata Of
such depth, no matter how thin and free
from matter II may be- IT. then, we ac-
cept this theory OF the distribution OF uni
verses. must see that there is no end
TO the system, for, by again working out
the proportionate calculation with the d.
ameter of the sidereal system as the basis,
we shall Only be going ono step higher up
the endless system OF dISt.hvtion of uni
verses throughout space.
But here our theories dnc r.. -'.t IA
must stop, for we are attempting to thiaii
out a question which is beyond the power
Of mans mind to truly grasp; we are on
the threshold of the Almighty, and the Sc
crets OF bcundless iniinity are and can be
known TO Him alone.