The Washington times., 1902-09-07

If no destructive eXtraneouS force Snoulu
interfere, is of course another ques-
ton, which we shall not discuss at
present Now, it is question of pro-
found interest and vital Importance 10
know the reasons why the solar system
is stable and will remain So as long as
perturbations depend upon the mem
bers of the solar system only. These
reasons are as follows:
Sun From Day to Day.
The accurate compensation of the ine-
qualities of the planetary motions de-
pend on certain conditions belonging TO
the original constitution Of the solar
system. 1t is essential that the mass of
the central body should be much greater
than of any of the planetary bodies re-
yolving about it. If. for instance. the
mass of the sun were no greater than
that of Jupiter, the disturbing action of
the latter upon tie nearer planets would
be sufficient entirely to change their or
bits: but the disturbing action of Jupiter
upon any one of the planets is tritiing
when compared with the attraction of
the sun upon the same planet 1t is fur
Their essential that the distances between
the planets, especially of the larger ones.
should be considerable when compared
with their distance from the sun. other
wise, when in conjunction, their disturb
ing action upon each other would be SO
great as entirely to change their orbits.
Ii IS essential that the orbits of the
planets, especially of the larger ones.
should have but little eccentricity. If
the orbit of Jupiter were as eccentric as
that rf MANY Of tha comets q might n
times approach so near to the earth as
entirely to change our orbit. 1t is es
sential that the planets should revolve
round the sun in planes but little in
clined to each other. Ii Jupiter's orbit
had great inclination to the ecliptic. he
would tend continually to draw the earth
out of its present plane of motion, while
the axis of the earth would retain fixed
position in space: that is. the obliquity
Of the ecliptic might change very great
ly, and this, as we have mentioned in
another place of this article, would in
volve change of seasons very unfav-
orable both to animal and vegetable life.
These four conditions are essential to
the stability of any system.
Work of an Almighty Hand.
In the demonstration by Laplace that
the solar system is stable fifth condi-
tion is added. viz. that the planets all
move about the sun in the same direc-
tion. Now, the question irresistibly in
trudes itself upon our mind how it is
that SO many bodies scattered over so
vast an extent of space should conform
to all the conditions essential to the
stability of the solar system, since
these conditions do not necessarily re-
suit from the nature of motion or of
graritation.
Is this remarkable conformity owing
to chance? To suppose so would un-
questionably evoke smile of contempt
upon the countenance of anyone famil-
lar with the calculus of probability.
The order. majesty, harmony, the full
fillment of exact mathematical condi-
tions in the minutest details a matter of
chance? Is 1t possible for human in
telligence to avoid the conclusion that
all this is the work of higher intelli-
gence and design. directing the origi-
nal constitution of the system so as
to give stability to the whole?
Forever Singing as They Shine.
Looking up at about 8 o'clock in the
September evenings We see on the me-
ridian constellation that bears a very
striking resemblance to cross This is
the fine constellation of Cygnus, or the
Swan. The top of the cross is marked
by the bright second nd-magnitude star
Alpha, or Deneb, while Beta or Albireo
star, orange and dark blue, and in fact
one Of the finest of the colored pairs
of stars for small telescopes.
At Gamma the cross-b bar, whose ex-
tremities are marked by Delta on the |
west and Epsilon on the east, cuts the |
main piece. By completing the parallel |
ogram OF which Alpha, Gamma and Ep- |
silon are the three other corners we |
easily find faint star, which, however |
Is quite memorable for being the first |
star the annual parallax of which was |
determined by Bessel in the year 1898. |
This is 81 Cygni, which is also double |
star Due south of Cygnus is the small |
but pretty constellation of Delphinus, |
Or the Dolphin. one of the ancient |
'orty-eight, whose main characteristic
IS diamond shaped figure, known by |
he name Of Jobs Coffin
Out of the stars between Cygnus and |
Delphinus Theryelius formed new con-
'tellation, which he called Vulpecula and |
Anser, or the Fox and the Goose, and
which has obtained more general recog-
lition among manographers than the
majority of his creations 1t has mol
prominent stars. but 1t contains one
yery interesting telescope object-the
'Dumbbeil Nebula'' Within the belt
,f the zodiac and on the meridian is the
Capricornus, which pos
esses the popularity of having two
,lphas-that is, a star double to the
naked eye. Beta is only three degrees
istant from 1t.
The Winter Solstice.
The almanac phrase for the suns
eaching the winter solstice is that II
nters Capricorn, but this is the sign
# that name and not the constellation
or the sun does not reach the constel-
alton before the middle of January.
.yra, with the beautiful star Vega, is
till high up. while Hercules. Corona,
,phiuchus and Scorpio are halfway be-
ween the meridian and the western ho-
izon.
The. brilliant star Arcturus is ap-
roaching the latter and Spica is close
0 il. Pegasus is close to the meridian
nd Perseus climbing up in the north
asst. Down in the east we see the
leiades rising with Aldebaran. The
ppearance of the skies indicates the
'aning OF the summer and the approach
( the autumnal season.
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