The San Francisco call., 1896-06-21
would be result of the onward move

Shaft for the Concentrating EIev ator.
would be a result of the onward move
ment of the solar system toward the
northern quarter of the heavens.
The movement is one of the most inter
esting discoveries in modern astronomy,
and one of the least understood. Stated
broadly, it amounts to this: That the
sun, instead of standing still in space
while the earth ana the other planets re-
volve about it. is really in very rapid mo-
ton from the south toward the north.
The rate of this motion is not known
with certainty, but there is good reason
for thinking that it cannot be less than
four or five hundred million miles in
year. Suppose we call it five hundred mil
lion miles; then it follows, since the earth
must accompany the sun in its journey
and partake of the motion described, that
we are being hurried through space toward
the north at the rate of more than mil
lion and a quarter miles every day, or
about fifteen miles in a second; that is,
with seven or eight times the speed of a
cannon-shot.
Now, it is important to remember that
while an enormous distance separates US
from the nearest known star, yet we know
very little of the contents of space between
US and the stars. But every year we are
learning more and more about dark and
invisible stars. Those that have been dis
cover ed thus far are intimately associated
with bright stars, and it is through the
effects of their attraction upon the bright
stars near them that astronomers have
become aware of their existence.
They are frequently gigantic bodies,
equal to or greater than the sun. The star
called Algol, for instan ce, consists of such
a couple, in VIII ich bright star and a dark
ne are linked together, and in this case
the dark star is about as large as our sun,
vet it gives forth not ray of light, but ON
the contrary, when it comes between the
bright star and our eyes, causes an eclipse
of the former.
This is only one instance among many.
The most natural conclusion concerning
these dark bodies is that they are extin-
guished suns-suns which have run their
course and perished. And, that being so,
there is no apparent reason why they
should not exist anywhere in space and
singly as well as in com bination with
bright stars.
Such body, then, invisible with any in
strument yet devised, might exist in that
part of space toward which we are moving.
In fact it's attraction might be one cause of
the motion of the solar system toward the
north, though proba bly, not the sole cause.
A collision with such body would be
far more serious thing than an encounter
with a comet, because it would probably
ha uhO arth iy,
results. Supposing such a renconter to take
place, it would probably be the sun. rather
than the earth or any planet that would
bear the brunt of the actual collision. But
that fact would not save US or help US in
the least.
The effect of the collision would be to
| cause an outburst of heat from the sun
| great enough to turn all the oceans into
steam. if it did not melt the rocks.
Only few years ago a most significant
thing, bearing upon this very question,
happened in the sky. A new star appeared
in the constellation Auriga. In a short
time it was observed that the light of the
new star, when examined with the spec
troscope. gave evidence of the existence
there of at least two bodies moving in dill
ferent direct ions.
One of these bodies was approaching the
earth; the other was receding. One of
them was so heated that its atmosphere,
or whatever the envelope may be called
that surrounded it, appeared as if on fire,
and glowed with more intense heat than
that which prevailed in the interior.
The other showed by its spectrum that
while it was blazing with solar heat, yet
like our sun it was hotter within than
without. 1t had a sh ell Of absorbing
vapors surrounding 1t.
After few weeks minor outbursts OF
light suddenly appeared in the new star
and then died away again, and one sug-
gested explanation of these was that they
were caused by the running down of plan
cts revolving around one Of the suns that
had been concerned III the original col
lision, and which planets had escaped the
direct consequences of the encounter until
the invader, which was darting across
their system, met them and trod them
down, so to speak, in its career of destruc-
ton.
Looking broadly at the whole subject,
however, one is led to conclude that the
most probable fate that awaits the earth is
the fate of freezing. All the methods by
which it has been imagined that Nature
might perpetuate the existence of the sun
are based upon unsound speculations.
The present condition of the solar sys-
tenn is only passing stage in its history,
and it is certain that when the sun ceases
to shine, or when it reaches such stage as
that represented by Mira, alternately blaz-
ing with fiery intensity and then dying out
almost to extinction, the earth as habit
able world must come TO an end.
Barring accidents. them the world has at
least5 900, 600, and pro bably 10000, 900 years
of life before it. And if an accident should
occur, such as collision, astronomers have
the means of giving warning; and even
though great invisible body should draw
near, its attraction would betray it long in