The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1903-02-13
ASTRONOMICAL MYSTERIES.

tfie AsuVhoHltNdA anu AsdNllHSSASdl So
ciety OF America Professor Simon New
comb discussed at length two unsolved
problems, A few years ago, he said,
ii was not supposed that any agencies
except gtayitation and light could be
felt across the wide spaces that separ-
ate the planets and stars. The astron-
olner and physicist are compelled, how
ever to suspect the existence and oper-
alton of others. Were these once re-
vealed they would not only prove inter-
esting in themselves, but also, by in
dieating the action of one body upon an
other exhibit the universe as an organ
ism and as possessing unity in hith-
erto unimagined fashion. says the New
York Tribune,
One of these mysterious forces is that
which causes magnets on the earth to
swing regularly within narrow limits
every day, and on rare occasions TO be-
have hysterically. Since the diurnal
oscillation is wider and magnetic
storms are more frequent and violent
at times Of maximum abundance of sun
spots, it is natural to attribute the ter
restaial phenomena to solar causes, or
else to sone external agency that also
produces the sun spots. Lord Kelvin
long ago expressed the belief that the
sun does not act directly as magnet,
and Professor Newcomb accepts that
doctrine. He cannot find any outside
force however, which acts simultane-
ously on earth and sun. He concludes
then, that both the spots and the mo-
ton of the magnets are due to some
cause acting within the sun. While ii
seems credible that Rontgen rays or
Professor ]. ]. Thompson's corpuscles
particles much smaller than atoms
and emitted by heated objects-may be
concerned in the two sets of phenomena
no recorded observations afford valid
excuse for thinking so. Here is line
of investigation along which practical
ly nothing has yet been accomplished, |
and the mere mention of it will present !
a powerful temptation TO astrcphysic-
lists.
Another occasion of profound per-
plexity is the behavior of the neubla |
surrounding the latest new star, the
one which appeared nearly two years
ago in the constellation Perseus. Pho !
togr.aphs taken at different periods last |
year showed that the nebula had APP |
parently expanded with amazing rapid
ity in a short period Whether the
composing the luminous gauzy |
cloud actually spread out, as if in con-
sequence of an explosion. or whether it
was some form Of energy, such as heat
or light, that travelled, was question
that promptly arose. AS for the veloc-
ity itself, that could be computed only
by adopting some theory as to the dis
tance Of the nova" from the earth.
There are several good reasons for
thinking that all of these new stars
have been as far off as the Milky Way,
and the average distance of the bodies
composing it is put at 340O light years
by Professor Newcomb. Accepting an
estimate of only 1900 or 1900, however,
results are reached. The
observed movement in the nebula Of
Nova Persei not only vastly exceeds
the swiftest election of matter in solar
eruptions, but also that of light! 1t
was ten times as great as the latter,
possibly more. Besides, light travels
in straight lines. and this motion was
along curved paths. What was it that
Here, again, Professor Newcomb
hows the influence which the new elec-
ron. theory exerts over his mind. He
suggests that possibly the solution to
his mystery may be found in the en-
ssIon of corpuscles, although Professor
Thomson does not think that these fly
aster than light. Apparently It would
,e much easier to demonstrate the ac- q
ivity of electrons in the case OF ter :
estrial magnetism than in the spread 9
( luminosity around Nova Persei. Man I
5 much better situated for directing y
hem in one case than in the other. I
We're their existence and influence es- I
ablished in either instance, however,
ne would be called upon to face i,
ingular dilemma. Electrons are par t
icles of matter, while light is believed n
. be merely a set of waves. Would !
he ether which is supposed to trans !