Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-16
Solar System Filled With Gases.

Inc entire solar stem, MT. NtuuS as
serts. is filled with various gases in va
rying states Of density, generally arranged
in concentric layers about the sun and
extending outward to the limits of the
solar system. All these gases, poisonous
and nOE-poisonous, are present in the
earth's atmosphere in both dense and diff
fuse form. The changing spectrum Of
HaEey'S comet, which at different times
has shown the spectral lines and bands
Of hydrogen, hydrocarbon, cyanogen and
sodium, Is due to the fact that as the
comets head and "taif' sweep through
various parts of the solar system they
light up the different layers OF gases
therein distributed, thus giving at times,
the impression that the tail itself is gas
OF gases, but it contains no vapor nor
solid particles, however minute The
meteor streams which follow in the path
Of comets are entirely dissociated from
the comet itself and really constitute an
absolutely different phenomenon. The
spectrum of reflected sunlight is always
present in the head and tail of all
comets. thus showing that by sunlight
alone and not by any cometary constit-
uency are comets made visible.
The cOmasphere, or head, of a comet
Is generally glObular and is in a state
OF revolution on an axis as we'll mo-
ton in an orbit. The radiant solar
energy. which fills the solar system in
and the rays of solar energy, which are
invisible until they meet volume of gas
or a solid rejecting surface. The re-
SiStance then encountered transforms
The head is Illuminated in the hemisphere
turned toward the sun, a bright focal
point is esta blished in the comasphere,
which has been called the nucleus Of the
coma. and a great train of focused and
transmitted light is thrown through
and a tail -
Acts as Great Lens.
Precisely as lens. within its field
bends or refracts part of the rays Of sun
light passing through, the lens into d
focal cone, the base of which is the lens
the apex Of which is the focus. To do this
the lens robs part of it's field of action of
rays of light so that it actually casts a
shadow. So Goes the head Of a comet act
in space. \ partial vacuum OF solar force,
Or energy, or light. Is created within the
cone of the comets tall and what We
seem to sec as the comets tail is really
the outer shell of und!sturbed solar force
or energy surrounding this vacuum conc
and made visible as light because seen
against vacuum. Just as an incandes-
cent light becomes visible only in a
vacuum, except that the comets tail
would be represented by the glass bulb
rather than the 1ilament.
condensed solar energy and it's accom-
panying shell OF practical vacQuity
through the solar system does cause dis
turtances to the planets, since it affects
the orderly radiation OF solar energy. to
which the earth Is balanced in its axial
and orbital motion. The disturbance is
not sufficient to affect the motion of the
earth ITSELF but its usual coherency is dis
turbeG. The atmosphere of the earth,
which acts as great shock absorber.
continually adjusts itself to the varying
effects, and we have as tangible result
unusual weather conditions, storms. frost.
unreasonable and all the other meteoro-
logical phenomena noted lately. Since it
is the radiating of solar energy which
maintains the coherency and gravitational
condition of the earth. it is manifest that
any disturbance is bound to result in
earth tremors. volcanic eruptiOns and all
the other natural phenomena that could
result from the deprivation of part of the
solar force or the addition OF a great
condensation OF it directed to q region
through which the earth is moving.
Probable Effect on Earth.
Although the comets tail is nothing
but light and vacuum, its effect Is like
that of a tremendously long rod sweeping
through the radiance of solar force. The
earth and all the planets are affected not
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