The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1900-09-14
zee sUns DISTINCTION.
Herscheps Conclusions Made More
Than a Century Ago Are
Being Verified.


More than a century ago Sir William
Herschel was able to fix roughly what
we call the apex Of the suns way in
space, or the point among the stars
towards which that way is for the mo-
ment directed. We say for the mo-
ment, writes Prof. Harold Jacoby, In
Popular Science Monthly, but we mean
that moment of which Bradley saw the
beginning in 1850, and upon whose end
no man of those now living shall ever
look. Hershel found that comparison
of old stellar observations seemed to
indicate that the stars in certain part
of the sky were opening out, as 1t were,
and that the considerations In the OPP
posite part Of the heavens seemed to
be drawing in, OF becoming smaller.
There can be but one reasonable ex-
PLANTATION Of this. We must be moving
towards that part of the sky where the
stars are separating. Just so man
watching a regiment of soldiers APP
proaohing will see at first only con-
fused body of men. But as they come
nearer the individual soldiers will seem
to separate, until at length each one is
seen distinct from all the others.
Herschelfixedthe position of the apex
at a point in the constellation Her
cules. The most recent Investigations
of Newcomb, published only few
months ago, have, on the whole, veri-
fed Herschels conclusions. With the
intuitiYe power of rare genius, Her
schel had been able to sift truth out
of error. The observational data at his
disposal would now be called rude, but
they disclosed to the scrutiny of his
acute understanding the germ of truth
that was in them. Later investigators
have increased the precision of our
knowledge, until we can now say that
the present direction of the solar mo-
ton is known within very narrow linn
its. A tiny circle might be drawn on
the sky, to which an astronomer might
point his hand and say: 'Yonderlittle
circle contains the goal toward which
the sun and planets are fastening to-
day. Even the speed of this motion has
been subjected to measurement and
found to be about ten miles per Sec
ond.'
The objective point and the rate of
motion thus stated, exact science holds
her peace. Here genuine knowledge
stops, and VIC can proceed further only
by the aid of that Imagination which
men of science need to curb at every
moment. But let no one think that the
sun will ever reach the so-calledl apex.
TO do SO would mean cosmic motion
upon straight line, while every con-
sideration of celestial mechanics points
to motion upon curve. When shall we
turn sufficiently upon that curve to de-
tect its bending? It's a problem we
must leave as rich heritage to later
generations that are to follow us. The
visionary theorists notion of great
central sun. controlling cur own suns
way In space, must be dismissed as far
too daring. But fer such central sun
we may substitute central center Of
gravity belonging to a great system of
which our sun is but an insignificant
member. Then we reach conception
that has lost nothing in the grandeur
of its simplicity, and is yet in accord
with the probabilities of sober rhe-
chanical science We cease to be n
lonely world, and stretch out the bonds
OF q common relationship to yonder
stars within the armament.