Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1895-02-22
A MYSTERY OF SPACE.
The Dark Spots or Vast Vacant Places In
the Skies.

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Among the more remarkable appear
ances in the sky which short focus pho
tographs have revealed, the presence of
dark gaps or vacant places have been
much commented upon, and one of our
most eminent scientists has formulated
the theory that the gaps are not real,
but result from the presence of light abb
sorbing bodies in space which hide from
us the background Of stars and nebu-
losities. There seem as many difficulties
in accepting this view as the correspond
ing one of star streams connected by
nebulous bands. That Opaque bodies
exist in the universe we know, and that
such obstruct light is evident, but the
theory or suggestion is that these exist
in large numbers and Of enormous d.
mansions, especially in the comparative
" small space which separates the solar
system from the fixed stars. The total
bulk of these supposed dark bodies
would be enormous, since they can
scarcely be supposed nearer than the
nearest fixed star, and some extend over
several degrees of the sky. One degree
at the distance Of Alpha Centauri means
400. 600, 600, 600 Of miles at least, while
three degrees mean more than l,OOO,-
600, 600, 600.
If we believe, then, in dark bodies
extending over even one degree we be-
lieve their extent is about 20 times the
diameter of the orbit Of Neptune. If
they extend three degrees they are more
than 200 times that orbit But MAJ
must be several times the distance Of
Alpha Centauri and an average Of
these times cannot be considered as eX-
cessive which results in length 800
times greater than the span Of Nep-
tunes orbit, or IS, 600 times that of the
earth. No dark body would visibly OBJ
struct the light of the stas if less than
1000, 600, 600 miles in section. We
have to decide for or against the exist
ence. then, of many hundreds Of dark
masses far exceeding tho solar system
in understanding it in some instances
thousands if not millions of times-and
all lying between US and the system Of
the stars.
The visible heavens accommodating IN
comparison with the vast bulk Of the
total Of invisible bodies, for we cannot
assume that the whole of the dark bodies
of the universe are collected in the solar
neighborhood, but must admit them to
be probably as numerous everywhere in
space and therefore more numerous as
we'll as infinitely va>tcr than the stars
and nobulT. The total of the number
and size required to account for the dark
gaps visible upon photographs is beyonG
computation, but as the bulk of single
ones must exceed the contcnt, of q globe
the size of the earth's orbit 1000, 600
times it must consist of matter millions
Of times less dense than anything we
know and still be millions Of times
greater in mass than the sun.
The shapes of these supposed bodies
increase the difficulty. That treelke
forms should be spread over much of
the sky would be more astonishing than
anything we have yet discovered, but
the process by which they have reached
this shape is more astounding still
They are supposed to be outrushes or
uprushes Of Opaque gas into a resisting
medium. But we are not told from
what the utRish can take place, nor IS
there any evidence Of the existence of u
furnace to produce so much smoke nor
any of a resisting medium to receive it
or force to propcl it. OF course, while
the theory is only propounded in gem
eralities, it is more difficult to consider
it than if definite details were formu'
lated English Mechanic.