Fuel of the SunSimpkin, 1870 - 222 pages |
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Common terms and phrases
absorption according amount appear aqueous vapour asteroids astronomers atmo atmosphere of Mars atmospheric matter body bright brilliancy burner calculated carbonic carbonic acid centre chromosphere clouds combustion compression condensation constitution corona corresponding cubic centimetres dark degree density depth described diameter disc dissociated gases distance earth ejected envelope exist explanation explosive faculæ Fahr flame gaseous matter gravitation greater Guillemin heat hydrogen hypothesis increased inferior planets iron irregular jets Jupiter limits Lockyer luminosity luminous magnitude Mars mass Mercury metallic vapours meteoric meteorites miles moon nebulous nucleus observed orbits outer oxide oxygen particles penumbra phenomena photometer photosphere planet planetary polar portion present pressure produce projected projectile quantity radiation rays regions ring rotation satellites Saturn seen Sir John Herschel solar atmosphere solar prominences solid specific gravity spectroscope spectrum sphere spot stratum sun-spots sun's supposed telescopic temperature terrestrial theoretical tion Total Eclipse umbra Uranus velocity Venus visible zodiacal light
Popular passages
Page 48 - In this case, it is obvious that the plane of the circle of illumination would be perpendicular to a line drawn from the centre of the sun to the centre of the earth...
Page 98 - ... water. The exceedingly definite shape of these objects ; their exact similarity one to another ; and the way in which they lie across and athwart each other (except where they form a sort of bridge across a spot, in which case they seem to affect a common direction, that, namely, of the bridge itself), all these characters seem quite repugnant to the notion of their being of a vaporous, a cloudy, or of a fluid nature. Nothing remains but to consider them as separate and independent sheets, flakes,...
Page 212 - It would be a vain task to attempt to count the stars in one of these globular clusters. They are not to be reckoned by hundreds; and on a"\ rough calculation, grounded on the apparent intervals between them at the borders...
Page 137 - Lyrse is the type. The iron of Lenarto has no doubt come from such an atmosphere, in which hydrogen greatly prevailed. This meteorite may be looked upon as holding imprisoned within it, and bearing to us, the hydrogen of the stars.
Page 9 - ... and it may be deserving of consideration, whether, in any instance, a deficiency of such matter can be proved, and whether, from this source, any conclusive argument can be drawn in favour of ultimate atoms in general.
Page 211 - Jupiter. — In the spectrum of Jupiter, lines are seen, which indicate the existence of an absorptive atmosphere about this planet. In this diagram these lines are presented as they appeared when viewed simultaneously with the spectrum of the sky, which, at the time of observation, reflected the light of the setting sun. One strong band corresponds with some terrestrial atmospheric lines, and probably indicates the presence of vapors similar to those which are about the earth.
Page 99 - There is nothing which represents so faithfully this appearance as the slow subsidence of some flocculent chemical precipitates in a transparent fluid, when viewed perpendicularly from above: so faithfully, indeed, that it is hardly possible not to be impressed with the idea of a luminous medium intermixed, but not confounded, with a transparent and non-luminous atmosphere, either floating as clouds in our air, or pervading it in vast sheets and columns like flame, or the streamers of our northern...
Page 42 - Let us now suppose a modification of these conditions, viz., that the vessel containing the dissociated gases at the temperature of dissociation shall be surrounded with bodies cooler than itself, ie, capable of receiving more heat from it than they radiate towards it ; there would then take place just so much combustion as would set free the amount of heat required to maintain the temperature of the vessel at the...
Page 80 - The great mystery, however, is to conceive how so enormous a conflagration (if such it be) can be kept up. Every discovery in chemical science here leaves us completely at a loss, or rather, seems to remove farther the prospect of probable explanation.
Page 5 - ... Williams published his very ingenious work entitled The Fuel of the Sun, in which, apparently without any knowledge of what had been written before with regard to an interstellary medium, he attempts to find therein the source of solar heat — the " solary fuel " of Newton. To quote his own language, " the gaseous ocean in which we are immersed is but a portion of the infinite atmosphere that fills the whole solidity of space, that links together all the elements of the universe, and diffuses...