Evening star., 1924-12-31


There is a possibility, however, that
coroniam may prove not to be a
separate element, but partially strip
ped atoms Of some other element: that
is, atoms with some their electrons
knocked off in some way SO that the
lines they show in the spectrograph
are not the same as they would show
IL all the electrons were present.
The search for coroniam is the most
pressing present task Of astronomers
and physicists. 1t Is being approached
from two angles, first the further
search in the sun and second, the
further progress in stripping known
elements of one atom after another
and finding their spectra. Expert
ments will be placed before the physi
cists today telling of the stripping
away of four and five electrons from
the atoms of some elements.
Provo New Stellar Systems.
But the most Omagination- inspiring
talk before the astronomers, DR.. Cur
tbs said was in the study of the
spiral negulae which now have been
proven definitely to be stellar sys-
TENS like our own.
First we have the solar system
the eight planets, of which the earth
Is one. moving in orbits around the
sun. The sun Is 100000 MILES
from the earth and the outer planets
are hundreds of millions of miles
further removed But they actually
are in the earth's backyard, COM
paratively-
Because our solar system is located
approximately in the center of our
stellar system and around it are ap-
proximately three thousand million
other suns with invisible planets
moving In orbits around them. The
nearest Of these suns is about
earth. Some OF them are at least one
hundred thousand trillion 100000
000, ,o00, ,000,0 ,000) miles away.
With this immensity. up to the past
two or three years. mans concep-
tlon of the universe has stopped. But
now revelations have come which may
make the whole stellar system no big
ger, compared with all that lies be-
yond, than a pin compared with a
mountain.
Independent Universes.
There are the spiral nebulae. They
have within the past few months def1-
nitely been proven to be independent
stellar universes, probably contain
ing billions of solar systems each,
lying immense distances away from
our stellar system. They are at least
a hundred million light years away
and light year consists of approx
mately six trillion miles. And no
body can tell how many spiral nebulae
exist in space. Beyond all possibility
of vision there may be any number Of
them one wishes to imagine.
DR.. Curtis spoke Of the possibility
of study a typical spiral nebula
as an average of all the others The
possibilities transcend the imagina-
ton.
Before 1850, he said, there will be
a number Of comets which will come
near enough to the earth to be
studied. 1t now has been definitely
established, he said. that comets are
members of the solar system, rather
than visitors from outside.
May Triple Planets.
The number of little planets or
asteroids known in our own solar
system, he said, may be doubled or
tripled. Already a thousand are
known. He predicted that the tabu-
lation of further asteroids may be
given up, due to the immense labor
and little practical result therefrom,
unless some machine can be devised
which will calculate their orbits just
as a machine now calculates the
tides.
Another vital problem is the study
OF the suns heat. DR.. Curtis said.
This largely remains for the future,
since it now has been established
definitely that it is not due to the
shrinking of the sun. Its heat has
not varied per cent in 200.00o,0O0
years. The only explanation, he said,
is that the heat is derived from some
form OF subatomic energy.
There will be Al minutes of eclipse
of the sun between now and 1850.
There has been only 48 minutes since
the first introduction of the photo
graphic plate. This will mean that
astronomers will be placed in a po-
sition to learn a great deal which
has hitherto been hidden through
inadequate instruments.