Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1906-12-05
PROBLEMS OF SPACE Il,
sNlGmAS THAT SCIENCE IS STRIVING
TO SOLVE.
The Question OF an Tnanfty OF
Worlds and Their Distribatiou In
an Infnfty OF SpRcc-Distance OF the
Nearest External Universe


rulated 20 impress a mans mind with
bis own insignihcance compared with
the overwhelming power and glory Of
his Creator than tho study and CON
temptation or the armament i'm all its
boundiess iE1nity. 1t is not TO be
wondered nc that from the earliest
ages the subject has never failed to
exercise fascination over men ana
that those who by their genius and
learning have most nearly succeeded
In solving it's mysteries have always
been reverenced and esteemed 10 be
among the wiseSt men OF their day.
More has been done within the last
fifty years than In all the rest OF the
worlds history toward the piercing OF
the veil which shuts of from our eyes
the beauties and mysteries OF farof
realms. and doubtless by means OF the
spectroscope and increased size in the
lenses Of Our telescopes we shall be
enabled before long 90 unravel stln
more secrets of the universe.
The question as 20 whether space is
finite or infinite can never be satisfac-
torily argued ont or indeed even
thought Of. for the human mind is in
capable OF grasplng the existence OF 4
limit TO space. even in its most ab-
strac9 form. but the question OF the in
fnity Of worlds and their distribution
I'm the iniuity of space lies more close
~ within the scope OF human intellect
for we have many material facts and
calculations 20 60 upon I'm discovering
the probable answer 10 this most fas-
chatting question
Only as far hack as the seventeenth
century astronomers placed the mum
ler OF stars I'm the universe as little
over 1000. but this was absurd. ms the
real number visible 20 the naked eve IS
about 1000. and perhaps treble that
uumbe- cam Doe seen 10y persons with
exceptionally good eyesight. When the
heavens. however. are examined
through telescope the number of visi-
bic stars is enormously increased. In
fact. it has been calculated that the
most powerful reveals as many as
100000, Yet what is that vast
number compared with infnitv? II
cannot even bc likeued. TO a grain OF
sand on the se3shore. and yet IL we
think the matter ont carefully we shall
see that the number OF visible stars
cannot really De infinite. for If they
were the heavens would Doe complete
blaze OF light. This. OF course. we
know is far from being he case. and
indeed there cannot bc "a doubt that
I'm certain parts OF the heavens mt least
the numper Of visible stars IS already
frrfnat-fn f..- 4. D.
gest telescopes there are blank spaces
which are absolutely devoid OF stars
below certain magnitude or even the
verieSt trace of nebulous light.
These spaces are known 20 aStrOno-
merS by tho name OF coal sacks -
They contain no stars fainter than the
twelfth magnitude and. in fact. appear
10 mark those parts OF the universe
which are comparatively thin. ON the
other hand. I'm other parts OF the heav-
ems we have not 10y any means reached
the limit 81 telescope resolvabllty. II
is curious. though. that these intensely
dark holes" In the bright empyrean
are mostly 10 be found in those parts
Of the heavens where most stars
abound. notably I'm the Milky WAY.
These remarkable blank spots have
been favorite theme OF discussion
and argument among all astronomers.
for. whatever the real shape or dis
trihution OF that universe may lie. they
point u the almost certain Inference
that in particular direction Mt least
there is an actual limit 70 the number
or stars. anG IL there is q limit in one
direction we have every rlcht to sun
pose that such IS the case I'm Others.
and that we have only 10 wait FOR
telescopes strong enough 10 resolve
those parts which are still unrcSolva-
bic to discover that point can be
reached whom an the stars of the uni
verse are unfolded 20 our gaze.
IT, now. we admit that the number
of visible stars is limited. the mex.
question % De asked Is. What Is the
order or shape of their distribution 2
Various astronomers have had various
theories about this matter IIcrschcl
was Inclined 10 think that the visible
universe was IN the shape Of disk.
though his views I'm this direction were
considerably modified during the later
part Of his life. Struve considered that
the universe was I'm the shape Of Il disk
of limited thickness. but infinite length.
a theory which is hard 10 support. as.
unless the ultimate extinction Of Light
in space is believed Ia. that part of
the heavens which lay toward the
plane of tho disk would necessarily
shine with The brightness " the sun.
Proctor. though finding 10 Impossible u
define amy particular shape for the Wis
iblc universe. as whole. was Of tho
opinion that the brightest part Of IT
namely. the Milky Way-was in the
form Of spiral This latter theory.
however. has many objections 10 CON
tend with. Other astronomers have
had different theories on this question.
but all. or nearly an. appear 10 admit
an ultimate limit 10 the size of the viSi-
bic universe. or. i'm other words. believe
that the galaxy of worlds which sur
round Us form. i'm fact but an i~let i'm
the vast mfnity # space.
II would appear at first sight that
any 0ttempi 10 solve the question of
the existence Of external galaNieS ana
thor distance was absolutely futile. vet
such is not The case The result OF cal
culation is that the nearest external
universe is So far distant that light
from il travelling at the speed Of lSG.
600 miles % second would take nearly
9OO0oooo years TO reach uS,-Cham-
hers Journal.
The Sweet Girls Way