The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1903-05-28
ARE THE STARS NuMBERLEssa
Thls query Is Answered An the Mega
tive by Authorities ON Astro-
nOmlcat Matters.


1t has often been suggested that the
stars are iafinite in number and that
the stellar universe Is therefore in
finite in extent and If the preponder-
anee Of evidence pointed in this direc-
tion our inquiry would be useless, be-
cause as regards infnity there can
be nc aiireretca of position. In what
ever part oi ~ we may be situated
that part can be no nearer the center
than any other part, says the Tnde-
pendent,
As the telescope Increased in ELI
cheney itwas found that every increase
Of power greatly increased the NUM-
Der Of visible stars, and this increase
went on with approximate equality
Of rate tn the largest modern tele-
scopes We're nearly reached. But lat
terly increased size and power has re-
vealed new stars in a smaller and SMALL
er proportion, indicating that we are
approaching the outer limits of the
starry system. This conclusion Is fur
ther enforced by the fact that the nu-
merous dark patches in the heavens
where hardly any stars are visible, and
those seen are projected on intensely
dark background, as in the "coal
BACKS" Of the southern hemisphere and
riffs and channels in the Milky Way
itself, continue to present the same
features in telescopes Of the very high
est powers as they do in those Of very
moderate size. This could not pos
sibly happea II stars were infinite In
number, or even IL they extended IN
similar profusion into spaces very
much greater than those to which our
telescopes can reach, because In that
case these dark backgrounds could be
illuminated by the light Of millions Of
stars so distant as to be separately in
visible, as in the case Of the Milky Way
itself.
The only other explanation would be
that the star system IS penetrated in
several directions by perfectly straight
tunnels Of enormous length compared
with their diameter in which no stars
exist, and this is considered TO be so inn
probable as 10 be unworthy of consid-
GRAFTON.
But perhaps the most striking proof
Of the limited extent Of the universe
Of luminous stars Is that dependents on
the laws Of light. This has been long
known to astronomers, and Il has been
very clearly and briefly stated by Prof.
Simon Newcomb. one of the profound
stt Of mathematical astronomers. lie
tells us TO imagine a series Of eoncen.
trio spheres. each the same distance
apart from the first, which includes
only the stars visible 10 the naked eve.
The space between each pair Of these
spheres viii be in extent proportional
TO the squares Of the diameter of the
sphere that limits it; and rs the light
we receive from each star is inverselv
proportional 20 rs distance from Us.
II follows that II each region were
equally strewn with stars Of the same
average brightaess chen we should re-
eelYe the same amount IF light from
each region, ID diminution of light
from each star being exactly compen-
sated by the vastly greater numbers In
each successireIy larger sphere. Hence
Il follows that II these concentric
spheres were infinite we should re-
ceire en- infinite amount 81 light from
them and even Il we make an ample
allowance for stoppage of light by in.
iervening dark bodies, ar by cosrnic
dust or by imperfect transparency of
the ether, we should at least receive
quite as much light from them as the
sun gives us ~ noouday.