Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-06
ARE THE STARS NUMBERLESSP
No, They Are but Finite Cluster in
Infinite Space.

From the Independent.
1t has often been suggested that the stars
are infinite in number and that the stellar
universe is therefore infinite in extent: and
If the preponderance of evidence pointed
in this direction our inquiry would be use
less, because as regards infinity there can
be no difference of position. In whatever
part of it we may be situated that part can
be no nearer the center than any other
part. n .f~s,
AS the telescope increased in efficiency it
was found that every increase of power
greatly increased the number of visible
stars, and this increase went with APP
proximate equality of rate till the largest
modern telescopes were nearly reached.
But latterly increased size and power has
revealed new stars in a smaller and smaller
proportion, indicating that we are ap-
preaching the outer limits of the starry
system. This conclusion is further enforced
by the fact that the numerous dark patches
in the heavens where hardly any stars are
visible, and those seen are projected on in
tensely dark background, as in the coal
sacks of the southern hemisphere and
riffs and channels in the Milky WAY itself.
continue to present the same features in
telescopes of the very highest powers as
they do in those of very moderate size This
could not possibly happen If stars were in
finite in number, or even if they extended
ip similar profusion into spaces very much
greater than those to which our telescopes
Gail ietCll, because III lflat case these dark
backgrounds could be so Illuminated by the
light of millions of stars so distant as to he
separately invisible, as in the case of the
Milky Way itself.
The only other explanation would he that
the star system is penetrated in. several d.
rections by perfectly straight tunnels Of
enormous length compared with their III
ameter in which no stars exist and this +.
considered to be so improbable as to he nm
worthy of consideration
But perhaps the most striking proof of
the limited extent of the universe of II,rn,.
nous stars is that dependent on the avs ~
nght This has been long known to astron
OmerS, and 1T has been very clearI, 80
briefly stated by Prof. Simon Newcomh
one or the profoundest of mathenaticoI -
tronomers. He tells US to imagine a saraa
OF concentrfc spheres, each the same dc
lance apart from the first which incl,,da
Only the stars visible to the naked eve The
space between each pair of these snha.ne
VIII be in extent proportional to the sp pores
OF the diameter Of the sphere that Iin,;ts
~ and as the light we receive from aanL
star is fnversely proportional Tn its At
lance from us, 1t follows that if eaob $3.50.
were equally strewn with stars of tha S Soi
average brightness, then we shou1d reoai
the same amount of light from each reo S1se
the ulminution of light from each sta IN
ing exactly compensated by the vastI,
greater numbers in each successiUe,,, 80.
sphere. Hence it follows thar r. thaso re
centric spheres were infinite we shoyId ~
celVe an infinite amount of light fron, ~.
una even II we make an annie aIIn,rnI,
LOT stoppage of light by intervening d,
podies, or by cosmic dust or nv inaS uiA
transparency of the ether we shnp'Id
ieast receive quite as much light from tb.na
us the su.i gives US at MONDAY