Omaha daily bee., 1912-06-09

as that with which we are dealing, is one
quarter of the earths density. In that case
the total gravitation of the planet would be
only 2o0,000 times greater than the earths,
and the weight of bodies on its surface would
be reduced to twenty-five times their weight
here But even then the pressure of its at
mosphere, supposed to be relatively of the
same extent as the earths atmosphere, would
be 375 pounds to the square inch-which is
much higher pressure than any careful en-.
gineer would dare to put into the best steam
boiler. A cubic yard of that air, removed to
the earths surface and allowed suddenly to
expand, would blow building to pieces like
an explosion Of dynamite!
But we have not yet touched upon all the
curious consequences resulting from the great
size Of the mysterious planet near Algol.
Assuming that its mean density Is one quar-
ter that of the earth, and that, consequently
bodies upon its surface weigh twenty-five
times as much as the same bodies do here,
we may reasonably conclude that its inhabi-
tants, instead of being giants proportioned to
the great size of their world, must rather be
dwarfs, only foot or two in height This
conclusion results from the consideration
that If they were as large as the inhabitants
of the earth they would be unable to stand
up under their immense weight It would
crush them down. On such planet an aver
age man would weigh $3.50 pounds. (This
differs from our former estimate OF $4,000
pounds, or 7k tons, because we now assume
that the density Of the planet is but quarter
of the earths instead of being equal to it).
But could man of that weight possibly
stand upright? Apparently, the only way in
which locomotion would be possible to the in.
habitants of such world would be by max
ing them SO small that their weight would
be reduced to point where bones and mus.
cles could easily support 1t. This could be
accomplished by making the stature of a man
about "a inches. A man Of that height on a
planet having (at its surface) twenty-five
times the gravitative force of the earth would
weigh about as much as sixfooter on the
earth, and no more. A fullgrown elephant,
in, order to be comfortable would have to
shrink to height of about four feet or be
aattened out like founder and move about
in that shape.
We have spoken of but one of these great
bodies, that which accompanies Algol, but, in
fact many others are known. There is con-
siderable number of stars which have huge
dark companions that may be regarded as
giant planets. We become aware of their
existence by the effects of their attraction
upon the stars 1t is even possible, in such
cases, to calculate the relative size and weight
of these invisible bodies. The one near
Algol is, as we have said about $4,000 miles
+, diameter, while Algol itself has a diameter
of about 1125,000 miles. They revolve round
their common center of gravity in the ex.
ceedingly brief period of sixty hours, and
they are only 100000 miles apart, from CEN
ter to center. s--..
But this is not all. There is at least one
of these giant planetary bodies which is act
ually larger, or more massive, than its own
sun-reversng the ordinary rule with ven
geance. 1t Is the great body which is con.
nected with the bright star Castor, in the con-
stellation Of the Twins.
The arrival Of huge dark body, or stranger
planet, in our system, whether it resulted in
a collision with the sun or not, would in
evitabiy upset the present planetary system.
The earth and the other planets would be
swirled from their orbits; the existing order.
ly arrangement would be broken up; if the
intruder approached close to the sun the lat
ter would burst out with redoubled energies.
shrivelling up, perhaps, the whole retinue of
it's planets like moths in a fame: and the
hitherto peaceful worlds, driving wildly
hither and thither, might destroy one an
other in fiery collisions.