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A Journey in Other Worlds system, astronomical record can tell when even a
most distant known planet has been in opposition or conjunction; but the earth
has scarcely been habitable since the sun was last in its present position in
its orbit around Cosmos. The curve that our system follows is of such radius
that it would require the
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most precise observations for centuries to show that it was not a straight
line.
"We call this the universe because it is all that the clearest eyes or
telescopes have been able to see, but it is only a subdivision -- in fact, but
a system on a vaster scale than that of the sun or of Sirius. Far beyond this
visible universe, my intuition tells me, are other systems more gigantic than
this, and entirely different in many respects. Even the effects of gravitation
are modified by the changed condition; for these systems are spread out flat,
like the rings of this planet, and the ether of space is luminous instead of
black, as here. These systems are but in a later stage of development than
ours; and in the course of evolution our visible universe will be changed in
the same way, as I can explain.
"In incalculable ages, the forward motion of the planets and their satellites
will be checked by the resistance of the ether of space and the meteorites and
solid matter they encounter. Meteorites also overtake them, and, by striking
them as it were in the rear, propel them, but more are encountered in front
-- an illustration of which you can have by walking rapidly or riding on
horseback on a rainy day, in
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which case more drops will strike your chest than your back. The same rule
applies to bodies in space, while the meteorites encountered have more effect
than those following, since in one case it is the speed of the meteor minus
that of the planet, and in the other the sum of the two velocities. With this
checking of the forward motion, the centrifugal force decreases, and the
attraction of the central body has more effect. When this takes place the
planet or satellite falls slightly towards the body around which it revolves,
thereby increasing its speed till the centrifugal force again balances the
centripetal. This would seem to make it descend by fits and starts, but in
reality the approach is nearly constant, so that the orbits are in fact
slightly spiral. What is true of the planets and satellites is also true of
the stars with reference to Cosmos; though many even of these have subordinate
motions in their great journey. Though the satellites of the moons revolve
about the primaries in orbits inclined at all kinds of angles to the planes of
the ecliptics, and even the moons vary in their paths about the planets, the
planets themselves revolve about the stars, like those of this system about
the sun, in substantially the same
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plane; and what is true of the planets is even more true of the stars in their
orbits about Cosmos, so that when, after incalculable ages, they do fall, they
strike this monster sun at or near its equator, and not
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A Journey in Other Worlds falling perpendicularly, but in a line varying but
slightly from a tangent, and at terrific speed, they cause the colossus to
rotate more and more rapidly on its own axis, till it must become greatly
flattened at the poles, as the earth is slightly, and as Jupiter and Saturn
are a good deal. Even though not all the stars are exactly in the plane of
Cosmos's equator, as you can see they are not there are as many above as below
it, so that the general average will be there; and as all are moving in the
same direction, it is not necessary for all to strike the same line, those
striking nearer the poles, where the circles are smaller, and where the
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surface is not being carried forward so fast by the giant's rotation, will
have even more effect in increasing its speed, since it will be like attaching
the driving-rods of a locomotive near the axle instead of near the
circumference, and with enough power will produce even greater results. As
Cosmos waxes greater from the result of these continual accretions, its
attraction for the stars will increase, until those coming
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from the outer regions of its universe will move at such terrific speed in
their spiral orbits that before coming in contact they will be almost
invisible, having already absorbed all solid matter revolving about
themselves. These accessions of moving matter, continually received at and [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]