The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1920-04-08

I%%lH He study of the science of astron-
Ir3kSat omy is as interesting as it is vast.
H@K@H The spaces of the heavens are in
lANV finite. Day by day, and year by
year, new wonders are reaveled in the bound
less skies by astronomers. New theories
are advanced; old theories are rejected.
Numbers of new stars are discovered each
year. A comet bursts into view sweep
ing the heavens in a majestic curve, to dis
appear, and mayhap to reappear at periodic
intervals of ten, fifty, or even two-hundred
years or more. An eclipse occurs; showers
OF meteors and meteorites fall upon the earth.
Some stars in the heavens are growing brigh-
ter, apparently larger; others corresponding
ly DINNER and smaller. Sun spots $50
called) appear and disappear or change their
size and shape.
Our time is reckoned by the aid of as
tronomy. The years, centuries and ages
have been ascertained to the fraction of a
minute by the observations of astronomers.
Navigation depends largely upon this science.
The great law of universal gravitation dis
covered by Newton was not accepted until
proven to be infallble by the researches of
astronomers. The speed of light was first
determined by astronomical observations.
These are all facts in practical astronomy.
In the realm of theoretical and hypo-
thetical astronomy there is even greater
field for the speculative student and re-
searcher. Yet none the less interesting are
these theories and hypothesis. How were
the stars and planets formed? Is the sun
growing cold? Would the earth be de
stroyed if it met comet in its flight? What
are the rings around the planet Saturn? Of
what is "a comet formed? What are the
nebulae; are they embryo planetary systems !?
Are other planets besides our earth planet
inhabited by living creatures? Many theories
have been advanced to explain these prob
lens, some of which are so lucid and appar-
ent that little doubt can exist as to their ac-
curay, yet astronomy is an exact science and
no hypothesis is ever accepted until absolute
ly proven to be correct
Of all these problems the one which
has caused the most discussion and conjecture
is this: Are other planets besides our earth
planet inhabited by living creatures?
The foremost authorities state that the
created stellar system extends without limit
into the emptiness of limitless space; that
each gigantic sun, (thousands of them)
flaming with light and heat, follows per-
feet and well assigned orbit; that about each
of these glorious suns there must revolve
scores of planets like this one upon which
we stand. In the face of modern know
ledge, by which we know that our solar sys-
tenn is only one (and very Insignificant
one at that) of thousands of other similar
systems, each containing a central sun sur
rounded by its attendant planets, controlled
by the same universal physical laws, and
differing in no essential from our own Sys-
tem,-in the face of all this, is it not absurd
to insist that our earth is the only planet en-
dowed with organic life?
Why should the Creator of all things,
of the finite and the infnite,-the Creator
of the universe. He who planned and evolved
the cosmos out of chaos why should He
have specially favored our tiny insignificant
earth and given it living creatures which He
denied the other planets which were like
wise His handiwork?
Or to those who disbelieve in special
act of creation and profess the belief that
life had a spontaneous origin and evolved to
its presnt complevity of structure through
aeons of gradual evolution Ito these then
why insist that bit of inorganic matter
especially favored by moisture and heat
should spontaneously burst into life only up
on the earth? Why deny the fact that this
self-same act of spontaneous origin of life
could as well take place on thousands oi
other planets under similar conditions? And
there can exist no valid reason on which te
base denial of this fact. We know today
that the inorganic matter of which our earth
is composed, likewise composes the Other
planets either in former, present, or future
states of planetary evolution and develop
ment.