Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-02-06
SOME DARK SPOTS IN THE Sky.
Attempts Of Scientists to Account
for Them upon Various Theories.

English Mechanic)
Among the more remarkable appear
ances in the sky which short-focus photo
graphs have revealed. the presence or
dark gaps or vacant places has been much
commented upon. and one Of our most
eminent scientists has formulated the
theory that the gaps are not real. put
result from the presence OF light-absoIp
ing bodies In space which hide from US
the background of stars and nebulosltles'
There seem as many difficulties IN &C
ceptng this view as the corresponding
one OF star-streams connected BY heou-
lOus bands That opaque bodies exist IN
the universe we know. and that such Cd
struct light IL evident, but the theoty or
suggestion Is that these exist In large
numbers and OF enormous dimensions.
especially In the COmparauVely-sHld II
space which separates the SOAR ~ TEN
from the fixed stars. The total ouik on
these supposed dark bodies wouII pne
enormous, since they can scarceiy os
supposed nearer than the nearest nNeu
star. and some extend over several ue-
grees Of the sky. one degree at the us
lance Of Alpha Centaurl means ~ $500, ,
OG) OF miles. at least, while three degrees
mean more than 100000. 5000. II
we believe. then. in dark bodies
extending over even one ust
we believe their extent is about
ss,antv times the diameter Of the
orbit Of Neptune. II they extend three
degrees. they are more than Nv tlile1
that orbit But many must ne se'eIaii
times the distance Of Alpha Centaur'' anu
not be Considered AS excessive whlcn
results in length 90 u ,ss
greater than the span OF Neptune's ornit,
or 1900 times that o. the e trnct he
light of the stars II less than lWl.n,vvv
miles in section. We have TO decide ior
or against the existence. then OF many many
hundreds Of dark masses Tar @
In, En1k-nxCpe1tnK Y,
some instances thousands, II not mil
lions. Of times-and all lying between Is
and the system OF the stars Inc NlslUl1
heavens become nothing In compa Ilsoh
with the vast bulk OF the total OF lh..
visible bodies. for We cannot assume thtt
tha whole Of the dark bodies OF the UNI
verse are collected in the solar nelshpor-
hood. but must admit them 70 De Pio 10,
biv as numerous everywhere in space anu
therefore more numerous, as wei as IN
fnitelv Vaster. than the stars ana hepu>
lac The total Of the number ana SIZE
required TO account for the dark GAPS
,isibia up0n photographs is beyond COM
mutation: but as the bulk OF single ones
must exceed the contents or gone the
size OF the earth's orbit 2oDOWo times, IL
must consist Of matter millions OF tunes
loss dense than anything we Know, ann
still b. millions of times greater IN mas,
than the sun. The shapes Of these sup
posed bodies increase the diihculty, mat
tree-like forms should be spread over
much OF the sky would be more aston
ishing than anything we have yet dis-
covered. but the process by which they
have reached this shape IL more astound-
ing still They are supposed 10 be out
rushes or uprushes Of Opaque gas into a
resisting medium But We are not told
| from what the outrush can take place,
| nor IL there any evidence Of the exist
| ence OF a furnace TO produce so much
smoke. nor any Of a resisting medium 10
| receive II. or force to propel II. on
| course. while the theory is only pro-
| pounded in generalities. 1t Is more din
! rrUit To- consider 1t than If definite details
were formulated.