Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-13
ARE THE STARS NuMBERLEssp
No-They Are but Finite Cluster in
Infinite Space.
From the Independent.

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.
As the telescope increased in efficiency II
was found that every increase of power
greatly increased the number of visible
stars. and this increase went on with ap-
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 APP
preaching the outer limits of the starry
system. This conclusion Is further en-
forced by the fact that the numerous dark
patches in the heavens where hardly any
stars are visible. and those seen are pro-
Jected on intensely dark background, as Ia
the coal sacks of the southern hemi-
sphere and riffs and channels in the Milky
features in telescopes of the very highest
powers as they do in those of very mod
crate size. This could not possibly happen
II stars were infinite In number. or even If
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 invisible.
In the case Of the Milky Way itself
The only other explanation would be that
the star system Is penetrated in several d.
rections by perfectly straight tunnels OF
enormous length compared with their d.
ameter In which no stars exist and this Is
considered to be so improbable as to be
unworthy of consideration.
But perhaps the most striking proof Of
the limited extent OF the universe of lumi-
nous stars Is that dependent on the laws
OF light This has been long known to
astronomers, and 1t has been very clearly
and briefly stated by Prof. Simon New
comb one Of the profoundest Of mathe-
agine series Of concentric spheres. each
the same distance apart from the first,
which includes only the stars visible to the
naked eye. The space between each pair
of these spheres will be In extent proper
tionai to the squares Of the diameter of
the sphere that limits 1t; and as the light
we receive from each star is inversely pro-
portionai to its distance from us. 1t follows
that II each region were equally strewn
with stars of the same average brightness
then we should receive the same amount
OF light from each region, the diminution
of light from each star being exactly COM
pensated by the vastly greater numbers In
each successfully larger sphere. Hence IT
follows that il these concentrc spheres
were infinite we should receive an infinite
amount of light from them, and even II We
make an ample allowance for stoppage OF
light by Intervening dark bodies. or by
cosmic dust, OF by imperfect transparency
of the ether, we should at least receive
quite as much light from them as the sun
gives at MONDAY.