The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-29
AS TO THE EQU|AOXES
Martin Joyce Contributes to The Recent
Discussion Concerning Them
ASTRONOMY TOO MUCH IGNORED
Days and Nights, He Contends, Are
Always Equal at the Equator-The
Polar Day and the Polar Night Are
Each Six Months Long-Some Re-
Elections and Suggestions Derived
from a Contemplation of the AS
Economical Science.
For Hte Saturday Tribune.

For Gte Saturday Tribune
In this busy world very little atten-
tion is given to the science of astrono-
my, as it is regarded as coming within
the particular sphere of the astrono-
mer, and therefore considered beyond
the reach Of ordinary observers. Even
mathematical geography, outside of
the schools, seems to attract no public
attention. The people accept the
equinoxes and the equinoctial storms
without stopping to make calculations
as to their periodical occurrence, the
equation of time, the vicissitude of the
seasons, the suns declination and the
various other phenomena connected
with the earth as planet. Generally
speaking, there is more attention given
to the religious sphere, eternal saliva
ton and the future habitation beyond
the grave, than to the globe which we
inhabit. Such, of course, is natural,
and belief in the future world, whether
it shall exist on this earth or else
where, seems to be one of the innate
attributes of the human mind.
But some Importance should be at
tached to a general knowledge Of the
earth, such as Eben P. Davis has un.
dertaken to discuss; for the reason that
the universal laws governing our
planet are worthy of thought and in
vestigation which the globe demands
as our present abode, the ground of
our existence, and the sense of our
subsistence and life. 1t is not our pur-
pose to assume the role of the Free
Press astronomer" or to enter the
field of discussion with Davis in order
to detract from his true merit. But it
seems to us that it is due to the people
who might feel interested in such dis
cussions, that the subject should not
be summarily dismissed by the Free
Press with slight reference to "pri-
mary geography" If Mr.. Davis is
mistaken in attempting to wipe out the
"old rut" from the face Of the globe, he
should certainly be corrected, and let
the old rut remain.
AN INTERESTING PILGRIMAGE.
Now, in justice to Mr.. Davies, to say
that he has gone far beyond the mar.
row shallow coast of primary geogra
ply. He has scaled the lofty submits
and "hills of frost where the rapid
reindeer crossed"-he has viewed the
mighty ice belt of the North Polar re-
gions, and has gazed with amazing
wonder and admiration upon the
quadrant altitude of the brilliant lord
of the day, as that great luminary
darts his benign rays to animate the
vestiges of living matter and organic
existence in the frigid quarters of oul
globe. But while Mr.. Davies might
not have been driven to eccentricities
and epicycles in the course of his trav
els and observations. Yet he nigh
possibly have been led into the laby
rinth of mistaken ideas. At least We
think so, in one instance which we
now note:
Mr.. Davis says: "The very fact tina
the cause of day and night being equa
on the equator, demands that the day
should be at each pole twenty-foul
hours long and the night nothing
This assertion gives a wrong impres
sion and should be corrected. Actua
measurement and the concurrent testi
mony and authority of every distin.
guished writer on the subject, show
that Mr.. Davis is mistaken. The cor
rect idea is: The day is twenty fou
hours long at the polar circles and no
at the poles, which are 90 degrees ant
2S minutes away from the polar circle
(mark the difference). Then between
the polar circles and the poles the day
are reckoned as months, keeping il
mind the antipodean or alternat
changes Of the six months days anC
the six months night and the six eli
mate within the Frigid zones, botf
north and south, as marked by tn,
limitation of the circles of illumination
We are not writing for the express
purpose of correcting Mr.. Davis, no
for the information of person already
familiar with the laws and conditions
of the earth as planet. We write fo
such as have not familiarized them
selves with such laws and condition
of the globe. Therefore, we call atten
ton to the following as a matter o
general information:
THE EQUINoXEs EXPLAINED.
The circle of illumination, just men
toned, is q great circle, its variation
and location, at different periods o
the year, must be accurately under
stood in order to get clear conception
of the subject matter which Mr.. Davi
has undertaken to discuss and whicl
the Free Press limits to the child
knowledge of geography. That grea
circle divides the day from the night
and as all great circles bisect eacl
other, the circle of illumination, il
every location of the earth and in ev
cry situation in its orbit, divides tn
equator into two equal parts. An,
this is the reason why the day and tn
night are always equal at the equato
during the whole year.
On March q, at the vernal equinox
and OH Sept. %, at the autumnal equi
nox, the axis of the earth is, not in
clined to nor declined from the sun
There, the celestial equator and th
terrestrial equator coincide or CORE
spond, and in this position and situa
tion of the earth, the circle of illuml
nation bisects the poles, thus dividin
the earth into two equal parts, givinl
the day hemisphere and the nigh
hemisphere equal day and equal nigh