Omaha daily bee., 1915-07-21

greatest telescopes have not yet reached
the bottom. or the boundaries, of the
entire system. but they have almost
done so.
This is shown by the thinning out of
the fainter stars, These stars as whole
are the most distant, and II they were
unlimited numerically every increase in
the pentrating power OF telescopes would
bring previously unseen ones into view,
in proporttonately undiminished numbers.
As a. fact. however. there is a rapid
falling off in the proportionate numbers
at great distances. This is shown by
Kepteyn's law of star density" Taking
the ''parsec" as the unit OF measurement,
a parsec is equal to 100000 miles, the
density of the stars at increasing dis
tances comes out as followsi At dis
tance, LOO; at so parsecs, O,99: at 1856 par
SECS 0.S6; at A3 parsecs. 0.s7; at $40 par
secs, 090; at $50 parsecs, O.16.
This does not mean that the absolute
number of stars decreases with increase
of distance. but that the ratio of their
number to the volume of space occupied
decreases in the proportion shown, so
that at a distance of $50 parsecs there
are only Is per cent as many stars as
there should be II there had been no fall
off in relative density.
Various counts and estimates of the
actual numbers included within various
limiting distances have been made. Thus,
according TO Messrs. Chapman and Me-
lotte, the number OF stars within the
limiting magnitude six (the faintest vlsi-
bic to the naked eye). is 3494; within
magnitude seven, 9,S1S; within magnitude
eight, 1880, within magnitude nine,
1900: within magnitude ten, 81, 800; with
in magnitude eleven, Sos, 900; within mag
nitude twelve. 1,s59.0OO; within magnitude
thirteen, 3,6S2OO0 within magnitude
fourteen, 7,646,00O; within magnitude fif-
teen. 15 10000; within magnitude sixteen,
39,5l0,OOO within magnitude seventeen,
54,90OOOO.
This does not reach the limit OF vision
Of the very greatest telescopes, but il
shows. I'm accord with other estimates,
that the total number OF stars in the
visible universe is Vulnerable and probably
does not exceed n thousand millions at
an outside estimate.
The fact that a fairly definite shape, on
outline. has been found for the visible
universe is. in itself, a proof that it is
not unlimited I'm extent. We are virtu.
ally certain that II expands around us in
such a manner as TO assume roughly
the form of flat irregular disk, the more
distant parts, OF edges, Of which lie in
the plane of the MILKY Way. 1t is thus
like a floating island of stars I'm the
ocean of space.
Space itself may be infinite although
what we call the universe is not. As tc
other universes existing beyond the
limits Of ours, and invisible TO us-that
is purely a speculation. which appears
more or less probable according 10 the
manner ia which ones mind approaches it
But at any rate. there Is no pOsitiv,
evidence of the existence OF such outel
star systems. From time to time one
hears suggestions that this or tha
nebula is an ''outside universe dimlI
shining to us from it's millions o.
crowded stars across immeasurable tracts
OF intervening space. But It is fal
more probable that no nebula or othe
object visible in the mightiest telescop'
Is unconne"ted with the universe [,
which our sun and our earth belong
As to the continuance of the Creator
work In forming new suns and new
planets, of that there can be n,
question. This work is. in truth, visibl!
going on before us In the heavens. Their
Is the utmost variety Of ages among IN
stars just as there Is among the humal
beings In a crowd. II our lives wer
heightened 30 that a year would be bu
as a second to Us we should see the star
around US disappearing and nsw one
spTinging into existence. as we Sc flow
ers fading and fresh ones blooming 4
the garden.
The changeableness Of the heaven
would then be as evident and familiar Z
rs as II that OF a meadow. As II Is
with our brief span Of existence. we Sc
the tens Of thousands OF spiral nebula
in the SKY apparently as motionless a
abandoned spiders webs, and onl