Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 7, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 November 1880 — The Distance of a Star from the Earth. [ARTICLE]

The Distance of a Star from the Earth.

For many ages this question pnzzled astronomers: How far off are the stars? It was known that their distance was great, very great. It was known that they were immeasurably farther off than the sun, the moon, or any of the planets; bnt it is only in the present century that tbe question has been even partially answered. Of the countless thousands of stars which stud the universe, the distance of perhaps about twenty has been determined. Others which have been tned have defied the powers of the most skillful astronomers, aided by the most elaborate instruments: their distance is too great to allow of measurement, while the rest of the vast host which stud our firmament have not yet been examined with this object. The inquiir is one of the most delicate and subtle which can engage tne attention of an astronomer. It is impossible to explain here, the manner in which it is conducted ; we must endeavor rather to realise the result which has rewarded these successful labors. There is a beautiful star in the southern hemisphere, the brightest in the constellation Centaur, one of the most brilliant stars in the heavens. This was diligently observed by the skillful astronomer who managed the observatory at the Cape of Good Hope in the years 1832 and 1833. He found as the result of his labors, that the distance of this star —Alpha Centaurl, as it is called—is twenty billions of miles. It requires a little consideration to estimate what the words twenty billions of miles really mean. A billion contains one million millions, and we shall endeavor to convey an idea of this amount by a few simple illustrations. Supposing our great forefather Adam had commenced to coant as quickly as he coold, aud that when his life was ended hia son commenced to count, taking np from the number at which Adam left off, and spent his whole life, daj- and night, counting as fast as b£ could, and supposing that at his death he enjeined on his heirs an eternity of counting, and that they had continued doing so np.to the present moment, their onited efforts would not yet have reached the amount of one quarter of a billion; and vet the distance of the star is twenty billions of milta!

Another illustration may be given to convey an idea of this vast distance. If we were to take a sum equal to five times our national debt, and were to expend this in postage-stamps we should get one billion of them; and if we were to draw a line round London, including every house in the suburbs, and than take an area equal in size to this cleared and arranged for the purpose; if we then commenced to stick them side by side over the entire area of London, we should nqt be able to get them all in. After we had covered every inch of the surfkce over completely, there would be countless thousands still remaining. Such then, ls the distance of the nearest fixed star. We cannot grasp it in our imagination, nor are we more successful If we try to make a map. Suppose we proceed by first laying down the sun, and then placing the earth one inch distant from it. If we inquire at wbat distance the nearest star should be placed, using the same scale, we find it to be eleven miles. A map Is therefore impossible. Knowing, however, the distance of the nearest star, what can wa say of the distance of the farthest of those that are visible? Here precise.knowledge fails us. We can. indeed, grope after the truth, and make guesses of greater or leas probability. We believe that it is, at all events, some hundreds of times as gnat as tha astounding magnitude of which we have endeavored to convey an Impression. There is a great deal ofvirtue in the five W’s. Don’t be ashamed to ask Why ?or When? or Who? or Which? It was tha •ihiloeopher Locke who, when he was asked bow he had contrived to accumulate a mine of knowledge so rich, vet so extensive and deep, replied that he attributed what little he knew to not having been tshamed to ask for information, and to the rale he had laid down, of conversing with aU sorts of men on those topics chiefly that formed their own peculiar profession or jmraaii * And that road is optn to every-