The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-10
THE INFINITY OF SPACE.
Astronomical Calculations That Stag
ger the Imagination
Chambers's Journal.

ger the Imagination
Chambers's Journal.
The question as to whether space is finite
or infinite can never be satisfactorily argued
out. or, indeed, even thought of, for the
human mind is incapable of grasping the
existence of a limit to space, even in it's
most abstract form; but the question Of
the infinity Of worlds and their distribution
in the infinity of space lies more closely
within the scope of human intellect, for we
have many material facts and calculations
to go upon in discovering the probable an
swer to this most fascinating question.
Only as far back as the seventeenth CEN
fury astronomers placed the number of
stars in the universe as a little over one
thousand, but this was absurd, as the real
number visible to the naked eye is about
seven thousand, and perhaps treble that
number can be seen by persons with ex-
ceptionally good eyesight. When the heav-
ems, however, are examined through a tel
escope the numbers OF visible stars are enor-
mously increased; in fact, 1t has been cal
culated that the great Lick telescope. the
most powerful yet made, reveals as many
as 1000 0 900. Yet what is that vast num-
Der compared with infinity? 1t cannot even
be likened to a grain OF sand on the sea-
shore.
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 a complete
blaze of light. This. of course, We know.
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 devoid
of stars below a certain magnitude. or even
the veriest trace Of nebulous light. These
SD4ceS are known to astronomers DIV the
name of coal sacks" They contain no
stars fainter than the twelfth magnitude,
Of the universe which are comparatively
thin.
a favorite theme Of discussion and argu-
ment amongst all astronomers, for what
ever the real shape or distribution of that
universe may be, they point to the almost
rection at least there is an actual limit to
the number of stars; and if there is a limit
in one direction we have every right to
suppose that such is the case in Others,
and that we have only to wait for tele-
scopes strong enough to resolve those parts
which are still Unreasonable to discover that
a point can be reached when all the stars
of the universe are unfolded to our gaze,
and that, no matter how keen the power OF
our mechanical vision. we can find no
more.
If, now, we admit that the number Of
visible stars is limited. the next question
to be asked is, what is the order or shape
of their distribution? Various astronomers
ndte d tdENOuS dOOul ILLS d
ter. Herschel was inclined to think that
the visible universe was in the shape of a
disc, th Ou'aarI his his y rdoS;as in a this direction ire c isan
ter part of his life. Struve considered that
the universe was in the shape of a disc of
limited thickness, but infinite length-a the
DRY which is hard to support, as, unless the
timat extension of light in space is be-
lieved in, that part of the heavens which
lay toward the plane of the disc would
necessarily shine with the brightness of the
sun. The late Mr., Proctor. though finding
for the universe as a whole. was of the
opinion that the brightest part OF 1t, name
~, the milky way, was In the form OF a
has many objects to contend with. Other
astronomers nave had different theories on
the question, but all, or nearly all, appear
the visible universe; or, in other words.
believe that the galaxy of worlds which
surround us form, in fact, but an islet IN
the vast inf1nity of space.
1t would appear at first sight that any
attempt to solve the question of the eS.
istence of external galaXjes and their dis
lance was absolutely futile. Yet such is
not the case. Some astronomers maintain
that certain of the nebulae-such as the
Magellan cloud, for instance-are really ex-
ternal galaxies. We have no mathematical
evidence, however, to arrive at the dis.
probability they belong to our own galaxy,
and are no further distant than the faint
est stars. Professors Lumbert, HerscheI,
Gore, Proctor and others have formulated
an ingenious hypothesis as to the distance
of external galaxieS. By a theoretical sys-
tenn of proportion based on q thorough
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 re-
suit of this calculation is that the nearest
external universe is SO far distant that the
light from it. travelling at the speed of
1856. GOO miles a second, would take nearly
$4,000 years to reach us.
The human mind is incapable of g~rasping
such an awful distance, but mathematical
calculations show us that, even supposing
that the external universe was the same
size as ours, it would only appear TO us DIS
a tiny speck of nebuleuS light. 1t is doubt
ful, however, whether even light could
reach us from such a distance; the lumi-
niferous ether may be absent from inter-
universal space, or light may be unable 70
pierce through strata of such depth, no
matter how thin and free from matter 1t
may be. IL, then, we accept this theory
OF distribution of tniverses, We must see
that there is no end TO the system. for. by
again working out the proportionate calcu-
lation with the diameter of the sidereal
system as the basis, we shall only be go
ing one step higher Up the endless system
of distribution of universes throughout
space.
But here our theories and calculations
must stop, for we are attempting TO think
out q 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 boundless infinity are and can be
known TO Him alone.