Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1916-03-22
PHENOMENA OF THE
ETHEREAL ARMAMENT
Seven Largest 'WOrlds" Now
On Same Side of Sun.
JuxtapOsiti0n of Stellar GOliathS
Contemplated by Iowa Authority.
All Visible In Evening.

CIV. H. Lynchard in Council Bluffs,
Iowa, NOnparieD
/ have been asked by a number of
people interested in the nOblest and
sublimist of all researches star
~ fields-if there is anything of un-
usual interest in the night skies at
the present time. One reader of the
Nonpariel writes me, you said there
are always things of fascinating in
terest in the heavens. What is there
more now than at any other timer"
It gladdens my heart and makes me
love my fellow man better than ever
and strengthens my conviction that
the world is quitting its snail-pace
and moving uptoward to new and
higher levels with accelerated speed
when 1 find appreciation and intelli-
gent interest in even the little l
write concerning modern astronomi-
cal discoveries.
Yet there is much of unusual inter-
est just now in the beautiful night
skies above us. The earth is in COM
pany with six of her sister worlds,
and it is very rare indeed that seven
of our entire family of eight worlds
are on the same side of the sun at
the same time. Jupiter and Saturn,
the celestial giants, each more than
world, Mercury, Venus, Mars and
Neptune are now all visible in the
early evenings, all evening stars"
The only other known planet of our
system, Uranus, is alone in the vast
void on the opposite of the sun.
If l knew anything about astrology
and believed in its alleged mighty po-
tencies. 1 would certainly set about
casting some horoscopes for this old
world and its needless people. There
ought be something doing in the
realms of astrology, but l will always
be honest enough to say that 1 can
find nothing in the stars but incen-
tive for the sublimest thought thought
and grandest effort of the human
mind.
What Significance Has 1t?
But l am inclined to think that this
unusual combination of our great So
lar clock-work may bring to bear
forces that will produce effects when
they impinge upon the earth. This
planetary strain is causing an enOr-
mouse excitement on the side of the
sun that is turned toward us and un-
doubtedly a corresponding calm on
the opposite side The hemisphere
Of the sun that is now giving us light
and heat is dashed into the widest
fury. Fiery pillows of matter are be-
ing thrown higher than the distance
of the moon from the earth. This in
creased activity cannot fail to have
a marked effect upon the earth and
all of the other planets that are eX-
erting simultaneously their terrific
pull upon the same side of the sun.
The earth is pulling 6,00S,000, 900, 000,
100000 tons upon the sun, and Jup-
tier, 1,125,9OO, O00, 900 900, 900 900 900
tons. Now, stop and read these fig
ures correctly, for they are approx
mately correct as round number
sums, and then try to realize them.
Then add Saturn, almost as large as
Jupiter, and Neptune, 800 times larg-
er than the earth, and Venus, just
fraction smaller than the earth, and
Mars and Mercury, the smaller worlds
of our well-governed family. Without
invading the realms of astrOlogy, /
can safely say that something might
happen | would not at all be sur
prised if the earth ran into lines of
force that could put upon its crust
strains that might visualize in at
least severe earthquakes.
Tremendous Force EXerted.
But the really interesting feature
of this rather rare planetary combin-
alton is the fact that it brings about
the tenth of the earth's eleven known
motions. At this time the eXtraOrdin-
airy fact is the center of the solar
gravity is not only not in the center
of the sun or even in the sun itself,
but is entirely outside his surface.
To hold all of the combined weight
of this massing of his children on
one side, the sun automatically shifts
his weight and prOtrudes the center
of his gravity in front of him. If the
center of gravity around which the
sun anu dlI the pIduSIS are IuIHlHS
was fixed like an axle a condition
such as this would bring about the
destruction of our whole planetary
system. The half of the sun subject
ed to the strain could not hold the
planets in their orbits and they would
fly off into space, never to return.
With none left but Uranus, a wintry
world hurled into the gloom of night,
whose year is so long that eighty
three of ours are required to make
one of his, there would be no place
for humanity, and the sublime, divine
plan of physical and spiritual evolu-
ton would end in blank and pitiful
ruin. But there are no terrors in ce-
lestial mechanics, and the divine plan
is absolutely faultless.
Neptune Invisible to Naked Eye.
Neptune is entirely invisible ex-
cept to telescopes, and Mercury can
I,a soon only for q fpw Toiuutac i,ct