Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1914-12-10
Rate of Rotation of Great
Spiral Nebulae

telligencc which enables us to appreciate
our real situation. end to aspire to some
degree ot comprehension of the vaster
material systems about us. Astronomy
teaches us that we are exceedingly small,
but nevertheless akin TO the greatest
Tho proof OF this has been repeated by
the discovery made AZ the Lowell obser-
vatory In Arizona
The spiral nebulae are so far away
that none of our means OF measurement
can get sure grasp upon their distance,
and yet, in spite OF thia the astron-
oiners In Arizona succeeded not only In
seeing that those immense appregations
of strangely organized matter are in rota-
ton, but even In ascertaining. in one case
at least, the speed OF the rotation.
They have found out that such nebuls
In the constellation Virgo il whirling
about an axis at the rate of 1,o00 kilo-
meters more than 600 miles) per second.
But 30 vast is the nebular mass (although
II Is mere wisp OF faint light in a pow
crful telescope) that a point on its cir
conference. travelling 50,OooOo0 miles; a
day, may not complete a single revolu-
ton In 1000 years.
Tho manner In which THE discovery
other problems is an astonishing evi-
dcnce of the reach OF tho human mind.
The waves of light were compelled to
yield the secret The process was. in
brief. az follows
when a l,ght-emitttng body swiftly APP
proaches the eye the light waves aresin
sense, crowded together. and the re-
suit In a ahift In the spectrum toward the
violet end. II the body is recedins the
waves are drawn out. and there lie
spectral shift toward the violent end. II
tho body is reccdlng the rays are drawn
ont and there is a spectral shift toward
the red end. If the body Is rotating on
an axis placed at right angles TO the
line OF sight the Hight from the side of
the body that Is rolling toward the eye
IL shifted toward the violet white that
from the aide that IL rolling away Is
shifted toward the rcd. The amount OF
this double shift ls measurable " Che
rotation is sufficiently rapid, and. taken
i'm connection with the known speed of
llRht. Il gives a means Of calculating the
velocity of the rotation.
This method has been applied In meas
urlng tho rotation OF the sun. OF the
planet Jupiter. of the rings OF Saturn.
and OF other similar bodies, The Arizona
ODeefNefh tfieG " upon neDuta whose
form chat Of long spindlel suggested
that II was a spiral In rapid rotation. like
a wheel, with it's axis lying across the
line OF sight. p
The result justified the experiment.
The spectral lines were shifted In OPP
posite directions at the two ends OF the
tubular spindle. and the amount OF the
shifting gave the information that ms
said above, the nebula Ia spinning at the
rate OF coo miles per second. s M
IL Is inconeeivabie that a nebriar mass
whose circumference is moving at such
speed can remain unbroken. II must
be tearing itself to pieces like an over
Hpeeded flywheel. This Is In accord with
the appearance presented by other spiral
nebulae which lie with their broadsides
toward U.S. As shown In photographs,
they have the look OF fiery pinwheels
from which streams of sparka are being
continually thrown Off with fearful valb-
city and TO stupendous distances. But
until now no direct proof OF their motion
has been obtainable. u
So much We have learned from our re-
mote and insignificant corner conoerning
some of the mighty operations going on
) In the great active centers OF creative
energy in the universe. The meaning OF
those operations remains to be discovered