The Washington times., 1901-07-14

VIII the theory recently advanced Dy
Or. T. J. J. See, the young astronomer
of the Naval Observatory, as to Inc
formation of the solar system supplaht
the hitherto accepted one of Lapiace!
This is probably the most interesting
speculation in astronomical science to-
dav. DIR. Sees theory is directly op-
posed to I.apIace's. which was accepted
by Herschel. Zollner. Proctor, and
other eminent scientists, and anticl-
pated by Kant.
I.aplace's assumption was, briefly
stated. that the solar system originated
in vast mass of fiery mist, which, with
the passage Of the ages, revolved more
and more rapidly until finally a ring
formed on the outer edge, like one OF
the rings of Saturn, composed Of mat
ter which could not keep up with the
tremendous revolving speed of the in
ner mass. This independent body, held
in place near the main body of the neb-
MIA bv the attraction of gravitatlOn, as
stIrned the form Of a sphere, and began
revolving on its own axis Thus Nep-
tune was formed Then came Uranus
and Saturn. All of the planets, accord
ing to this theory, were gaseous ana
flaming hot when separated from the
sun. but the earth Mars, and Venus
have since cooled down TO their present
state. Such is the old theory, not only
of the formation of our own solar sys-
tenn. but Of all other stellar systems.
DR.. Sees theory is based upon a sim
ple and weII-known fact-a gas, when
oomnressed. generates heat Compress
the air in a bicycle pump, and the pump
grows warm under the hand. The at
traction of gravitation in a gaseous
body of huge dimensions acts, natural
Is. as a compressing power-that Is
gaseous star congresses Itself anu
produces heat When a gaseous body
shrinks. It's temperature increases. 50
much for general principles. DR.. Sees
new law. specifically stated, is that the
temperature Of . gaseous star varies
inverse!y as the radius, or, as he eN-
presses il in algebraic formula. 7 equals
X oy-, r. T being the temperature OF
The body. r the radius, and the con-
stant One OF the most interesting
phases CT this principle is the deduc-
ton. by its means, Of the early condl-
ton of the universe.
I'VE know" says DR.. See, from the
experiments Of eminent physicists and
astronomers, that the present heat OF
the sun is not far from 5000 degrees
Centigrade above the absolute cold Of
interstellar space. Remember that
when z. the radius, increases, 7, the
temperature. must decrease in like pro-
portion. Supposing. then, that the suns
radius was twice what it is today, the
temperature would be only 1000 de-
srees. Progressing further on the
same principle. suppose that the sun
had eight times its present oiazsster,
the temperature then would be ssly
1,eO0 degrees.
Al one time the suns mass was 80
immense that it covered the entire
space now occupied by the solar system.
By the very simple application Of
the new law We find that, when the
radius OF the sun was so extended that
IL reached the orbit Of Neptune. the
temperature must have been ~ the in
tense condition of cold represented by
l degree above the absolute zero. rs
the absolute zero, OF the cold OF space,
has been determined Approximately II
273 degrees below zero CenUrisrade, cur
sun. or the neb1lous mass which then
composed il. must haze had = telnpera-
ture Of 272 degrees below zero-as cold
as liquid air. or colder.
such was the original condition of
our solar system and Of all oJher stel-
Iar systems-a formless mass Of icy par
ticles floating in space. This aggresa-
ton Of matter probably gave forth q
faint luTninescences such as Is observed
in the tails Of comets, a light due prob
ably to electrical action, the exact na-
ture Of which is still involved in mys-
terry Imagine Z great fOg-bank hang
ing in the depths Of space, but contain
ing those forces and materials which
were TO form ultimately our solar sys-
TEN with its grand harmony and varied
life. Space may today be fun Of just
such cold. dark, nebulous masses as
that which formed our sun. Indeed, the
locations OF some Of them are known
definitely, and it is a notable fact, in
support Of my law. that the spectre
scope has so far been able TO ind only
two substances in these nebulae. The
first is hydrogen, one Of the lightest Of
known gases and one of the first to es-
cape from the frozen state Of absolute
cold; and the other is an unknown sub
stance which We have called nebuliam.
All of the other substances are prob
ably present in the nebulae. but in a
solid and non-luminous state. Accord
ing 10 the old theories, the developing
mass was a white-kot. flaming body
ihe like of which we now see nowhere
an the universe, even with our best tel
escopes. Either there are no more heav-
enly systems in process OF formation or
else the old theories are erroneous.
believe for my part. that the dim. cold
nebulae. of which We now know next
to nothing. will. ia the course of time,
become suns ana systems.
Picture, then. q great stretch Of
nebulae, made up Of solid and gaseous
particles, one of which. smaller than
myriads Of others. is TO become our
solar system Although vast and atten-
uated. this nebula has set up a GLOW
motion, which is the beginning of de-
Yelop.nent II reyolves about its cen
tire or axis. II also condenses gradual
j. by the attraction Of gravitation. As
It grows smaller and a trifie more com
pact, II reYoives little faster. After
a few million years have elapsed, and