Kosmos: A General Survey of Physical Phenomena of the Universe, Volume 1H. Baillière, 1845 |
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Kosmos: A General Survey of Physical Phenomena of the Universe, Volume 2 Alexander Von Humboldt No preview available - 2015 |
Common terms and phrases
according aërolites animals Annuaire appears Arago Asie centrale atmosphere augite basalt belong bodies Buch carbonic acid climate clouds coasts comet connection continents crater crust degree density depth direction distance earth earthquakes elevation Elie de Beaumont epochs equator eruption fall feet fire-balls fissures force formation forms geognosy geographical globe gneiss granite heat heaven height Herschel Himalaya Hist Humboldt influence interior islands John Herschel land latitude lava limestone luminous magnetic masses matter mean measure melaphyre meteoric stones miles moon motion nature nebulous northern lights observed ocean olivine orbits organic period phenomena phenomenon physical planet planetary plutonic Poggend pole porphyry portion present Quito regions relations remarkable rise rocks satellites shooting stars Silurian space species Strabo strata streams surface temperature terrestrial tion toises trachytic tropical Uranus vapour vegetable vide views volcanoes whilst whole William Herschel zodiacal light zone
Popular passages
Page 158 - ... which are separated by vast intervals of time, compressed into a day or an hour, everything like rest in spacial existence will forthwith disappear. We shall find the innumerable hosts of the fixed stars commoved in groups in different directions ; nebulae drawing hither and thither, like cosmic clouds ; the milky way breaking up in particular parts, and its veil rent; motion in every part of the vault of heaven.
Page 477 - Quodsi omnes quondam terrae submersae profundo fuerunt, profecto editissimam quamque partem decurrentibus aquis primum detectam; humillimo autem solo eandem aquam diutissime inmoratam ; 18.
Page 446 - Est prope Pittheam tumulus Troezena, sine ullis arduus arboribus, quondam planissima campi area, nunc tumulus; nam (res horrenda relatu!) vis fera ventorum, caecis inclusa cavernis, exspirare aliqua cupiens, luctataque frustra
Page 211 - ... light stream through the air ; so in the hotter zones of the earth, between the tropics, are there many thousand square miles of ocean which are similarly light-engendering. Here, however, the magic of the light belongs to the organic forces of nature. Light-foaming flashes the bursting wave, the wide level glows with lustrous sparks, and every spark is the vital motion of an invisible animal world. So manifold is the source of terrestrial light. And shall we conceive it latent, not yet set free...
Page 397 - The stars have uncommon lustre, and the Milky Way shines gloriously in the firmament. There is also a never-ceasing display of the most brilliant meteors, which dart like rockets in the sky ; ten or twelve of them are sometimes seen in an hour, assuming every colour ; fiery red, blue, pale, and faint.
Page 419 - The discovery of the spheroidal form of Jupiter by Cassini had probably directed the attention of Newton to the determination of its cause, and consequently to the investigation of the true figure of the earth.
Page 478 - Iberos veteres trajecisse easque sedes occupasse fidem faciunt. Proximi Gallis et similes sunt, seu durante originis vi, seu procurrentibus in diversa terris positio coeli corporibus habitum dedit.
Page 132 - ¡itmosphere, and only suffer a certain deflection in the eccentricity of their orbils by the attraction of the earth. We may conceive that the same bodies only become visible to us again after the lapse of several years, and when they have made many revolutions round their orbit." * * " Shooting stars fall either singly and rarely, and at all seasons indifferently, or in crowds of many thousands, (Arabian writers compare them to swarms of locusts,) in which case they are periodical, and move in...
Page 6 - The most important consequences of physical researches are therefore these: — To acknowledge unity in multiplicity; from the individual to embrace all; amidst the discoveries of later ages to prove and separate the individuals, yet not to be overwhelmed with...
Page 234 - St Patricius probably Bishop of Pertusa, was led to a very correct view of the phenomenon which presented itself in the appearance of hot springs near Carthage, at the end of the third century. "When questioned as to the cause of the boiling-hot water which poured out from the earth, he answered : — " Fire is nourished in the clouds, and in the interior of the earth, as Etna, and another mountain in the neighbourhood of Naples, inform you.