The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1895-06-03
INFINITY OF SPACE.
MATTERS BEYOND THE POWERS OF
THE HUMAN MIND.

upon the suh1ect Since the Astronomers
ofthe Seventeenth Century Declared That
There Were Only One Thousand Stars.
There can be no subject more calculated
TO impress n mans mind with his own in
significance, compared with the over
whelming power and glory Of his Creator
than the study and contemplation of the
armament in all it's boundless indnity. It
Is not to be wondered at that from the
earliest ages the subject has never failed
TO exercise a fascination over men, and
that those who, by their genius and learn
ing, have most nearly succeeded in solv-
ing its mysteries have always been rever-
enced and esteemed to be among the wis
est men of their day. More has been done
within the last 80 years than in all the
rest of the worlds history toward the
piercing of the veil which shuts off from
our eyes the beauties and mysteries of far
OIL realms, and doubtless, by means of the
speotrosoope and increased size in the
lenses of our telescopes, we shall be ena-
bled before long to unravel still more se-
crets OF the universe, and further add to
our stock of information regarding the
construction and conditions of other
worlds besides our own.
OF infinite can never be satisfactorily ar.
gued out or indeed even thought of, for
the human mind is incapable of graspinp
the existence of limit to space, even in
its most abstract form, but the question
of the inflnity of worlds and their distri-
button in the inflnity of space lies more
closely within the scope of human intel
lect, for we have many material facts and
calculations to go upon in discovering the
probable answer to this most fascinating
question.
Only as far back as the seventeenth CEN
tury astronomers placed the number of
stars in the universe as a little over 900,
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
eyeslght. When the heavens, however. are
examined through telescope the number
OF visible stars are enormously increased.
In fact it has been calculated that the
great Lick telescope, the most powerful yet
made, reveals as many as 100, 0OO O0Ol |
Yet what is that vast number compared
with inhnity? 1t cannot even be likeued |
TO grain of sand on the seashore, and |
yet II we think the matter out carefully |
we shall see that the number of visible |
stars cannot really be infinite, for if 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 |
IRE blank spaces which are absolutely de-
7oid of stars below certain magnitude |
)r even the veriest trace of nebulous light.
These spaces are known to astronomers |
)y the name of "coal sacks" They con- |
ain no stars fainter than the twelfth mag |
litude, and, in fact, appear to mark those |
,arts of the universe which are conpara-
lively thin. On the other hand, in other |
Darts of the heavens we have not by any |
means reached the limit of telescope re- |
durability. 1t is curious, though, that !
hese intensely dark "holes" in the bright
mpyrean are mostly to be found in those
,arts of the heavens where most stars
bound, notably in the Milky Way. These
blank spots have been favor
TO theme of discussion and argument
mong all astronomers, for, whatever the
cal shape or distribution of that universe
lay be, they point to the almost certain
Inference that in particular direction at
east there Is an actual limit to the num-
er of stars, and if there is limit in one
irection we have every right to suppose
hat such is the case in others, and that
'e have only to wait for telescopes strong
nough to resolve those parts which are
I'LL unresolyable to discover that a point
IN be reached when all the stars of the
inverse are unfOlded to our gaze, and
lat, no matter how keen tho power of
lr mechanical vision, we can find no
lore.
Ii, now, we admit that the number of
sible stars is limited, the next question
be asked is, What is the order or shape
their distribution? Various astrono-
ers have had various theories about this
after. Herschel was inclined to think
lat the visible universe was in the shane
disk, though his views in this direc.
on were considerably modified during the
ter part of his life. Strdve considered
lat the universe was in the shape of a
SIX of limited thickness, but infinite
ngth-a theory which is hard to support.
, unless the ultimate extinction of LIGHT
space is believed in, that part of the
avens which lay toward the plane of the
SIX would necessarily shine with the
ightness of the sun. The late Mr. Proc
r, though finding it impossible to define
y particular shape for the visible uni
rse, as whole, was of the opinion that {
Q brightest part of it-namely, the Milky l
ay-was in the form of spiral This a
tier theory, however, has many obiec- {
ms to contend with. Otherastronomers '
We had different theories on this ques- Y
N, but all, or nearly all, appear to ad- L
It an ultimate limit to the size of the G
iible universe, or, in other words, be- Il
ve that the galaxy of worlds which sur II
md us form, in fact, but an islet in the c
st inflnity of space, /
1t would appear at first sight that any
empt to solve the question Of the exist
&c of external galaxies and their dis g..
ace was absolutely futile, yet such is not -
case. The result of calculation is that "
, nearest external universe is so far dis Z
1t that light from it travelling at the y
ed Of lS6, 900 miles second would take y
lrly 80, 600, 600 years to reach usl- II
ambers' journal