Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1895-02-25
= MYSTERY OF SPACE.
The Dark Spots Vast Vacant Places Ia
the Skies.
Among tho more remarkable appear

the skies.
Among the more remarkable appear =
apces in tho sky which short focus pho
tographs have revealed, the presence Of
dark gap5 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,
hut result from the presence of light alb
sorbing bodies i'll space which hide from
as the background of stars and nebu-
lositics. 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 di-
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, 900, 600 Of miles at least. while
three degrees mean more than l,000,-
900, 900, 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 many
must be several times the distance of
Alpha Centauri, and an average Of
these times cannot be considered as ex.
cessivo which results in a length 600
times greater than the span of Nep-
tuno's orbit, or 5000 times that of the
earth No dark body would visibly OBJ
struct the light of the stars If less than
1000, 000 600 miles in section. We
have to decide for or against the exist
ence, then, of many hundreds of dark
masses far exceeding the solar system
in understanding it in some instances
thousands III not millions of times-and
all lying between US and the system of
the stars.
The visible heavens become nothing in
comparison with tho 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
neighb0rhood, but must admit them TO
be probably as numerous everywhere in
space and therefore more numerous as
we'll as infinitely vaster than the stars
and nebulae. The total of the number
and size required to account for the dark
gaps visible upon photographs is beyond
computation, but as the bulk of single
ones must exceed the contents Of q globe
the sizo of tho 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 shupos Of these supposed bodies
increase the difficulty. That treelille
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 BIO outrushes or
uprushcs of Opaque gas into q resisting
medium. But we are not told from
what tho on "a 81 can take place, nor is
there any evidence OF the existence of "A
furnace TO produce SO much smoke nor
any Of q resisting medium TO receive it
or force TO propel it. OF course, while
the theory is only propounded in gen
eralities, it is more difficult to consider
it than ii definite details were formu-
lated.-English Mechanic.