The three abstrusities:
The aberration of light, the annual parallax of the stars, the regular,
annual shift of the lines of the stellar spectra.
By the aberration of light is meant a displacement of all stars, during
a year’s observation, by which stars near the pole of the ecliptic
describe circles, stars nearer the ecliptic describe ellipses, and the
stars of the ecliptic, only little straight lines. It is supposed that
light has velocity, and that these forms represent the ratio between the
velocity of light and the supposed velocity of this earth in its orbit.
In the year, 1725, Bradley conceived of the present orthodox explanation
of the aberration-forms of the stars: that they reflect or represent the
path that this earth traverses around the sun, as it would look from the
stars, appearing virtually circular from stars in the pole of the
ecliptic, for instance. In Bradley’s day there were no definite
delusions as to the traversing by this earth of another path in space,
as part of a whole moving system, so Bradley felt simple and satisfied.
About a century later by some of the most amusing reasoning that one
could be entertained with, astronomers decided that the whole supposed
solar system is moving, at a rate of about 13 miles a second from the
region of Sirius to a point near Vega, all this occurring in northern
skies, because southern astronomers had not very much to say at that
time. Now, then, if at one time in the year, and in one part of its
orbit, this earth is moving in the direction in which the whole solar
system is moving, there we have this earth traversing a distance that is
the sum of its own motion and the general motion; then when the earth
rounds about and retraces, there we have its own velocity minus the
general velocity. The first abstrusity, then, is knocked flat on its
technicalities, because the aberration-forms, then, do not reflect the
annual motion of this earth: if, in conventional terms, though the path
of this earth is circular or elliptic relatively to the sun, when
compounding with solar motion it is not so formed relatively to stars;
and there will have to be another explanation for the aberration-forms.
The second supposed proof that this earth moves around the sun is in the
parallax of the stars. In conventional terms, it is said that opposite
points in this earth’s orbit are 185,000,000 miles apart. It is said
that stars, so differently viewed, are minutely displaced against their
backgrounds. Again solar-motion—if, in conventional terms, this earth
has been traveling, as part of the solar system, from Sirius, toward
Vega, in 2,000 years this earth has traveled 819,936,000,000 miles. This
distance is 4,500 times the distance that is the base line for orbital
parallax. Then displacement of the stars by solar-motion parallax in
2,000 years, should be 4,500 times the displacement by orbital parallax,
in one year. Give to orbital parallax as minute a quantity as is
consistent with the claims made for it, and 4,500 times that would dent
the Great Dipper and nick the Sickle of Leo, and perhaps make the Dragon
look like a dragon. But not a star in the heavens has changed more than
doubtfully since the stars were catalogued by Hipparchus, 2,000 years
ago. If, then, there be minute displacements of stars that are
attributed to orbital parallax, they will have to be explained in some
other way, if evidently the sun does not move from Sirius toward Vega,
and if then, quite as reasonably, this earth may not move.
Prof. Young’s third “proof” is spectroscopic.
To what degree can spectroscopy in astronomy be relied upon?
Bryant, _A History of Astronomy_, p. 206:
That, according to Bélopolsky, Venus rotates in about 24 hours, as
determined by the spectroscope; that, according to Dr. Slipher, Venus
rotates in about 224 days, as determined by the spectroscope.
According to observations too numerous to make it necessary to cite any,
the seeming motions of stars, occulted by the moon, show that the moon
has atmosphere. According to the spectroscope, there is no atmosphere
upon the moon (_Pubs. Astro. Soc. Pacific_, vol. 6, no. 37).
The ring of light around Venus, during the transits of 1874 and 1882,
indicated that Venus has atmosphere. Most astronomers say that Venus has
an atmosphere of extreme density, obscuring the features of the planet.
According to spectrum analysis, by Sir William Huggins, Venus has no
atmosphere (_Eng. Mec._, 4-22).
In the _English Mechanic_, 89-439, are published results of
spectroscopic examinations of Mars, by Director Campbell, of the Lick
Observatory: that there is no oxygen, and that there is no water vapor
on Mars. In _Monthly Notices, R. A. S._, 27-178, are published results
of spectroscopic examinations of Mars by Huggins: abundance of oxygen;
same vapors as the vapors of this earth.
These are the amusements of our Pilgrim’s Progress, which has new San
Salvadors for its goals, or new Plymouth Rocks for its expectations—but
the experiences of pilgrims have variety—
In 1895, at the Allegheny Observatory, Prof. Keeler undertook to
determine the rotation-period of Saturn’s rings, by spectroscopy. It is
gravitational gospel that particles upon the outside of the rings move
at the rate of 10.69 miles a second; particles upon the inner edge,
13.01 miles a second. Prof. Keeler’s determinations were what Sir Robert
Ball calls “brilliant confirmation of the mathematical deduction.” Prof.
Keeler announced that according to the spectroscope, the outside
particles of the rings of Saturn move at the rate of 10.1 miles a
second, and that the inner particles move at the rate of 12.4 miles a
second—“as they ought to,” says Prof. Young, in his gospel, _Elements of
Astronomy_.
One reads of a miracle like this, the carrying out into decimals of
different speeds of different particles in parts of a point of light,
the parts of which can not be seen at all without a telescope, whereby
they seem to constitute a solid and motionless structure, and one
admires, or one worships, according to one’s inexperience—
Or there comes upon one a sense of imposture and imposition that is not
very bearable. Imposition or imposture or captivation—and it’s as if
we’ve been trapped and have been put into a revolving cage, some of the
bars revolving at unthinkable speed, and other bars of it going around
still faster, even though not conceivable. Disbelieve as we will, deride
and accuse, and think of all the other false demonstrations that we have
encountered, as we will—there’s the buzz of the bars that encircle us.
The concoction that has caged us is one of the most brilliant harlots in
modern prostitution: we’re imprisoned at the pleasure of a favorite in
the harem of the God of Gravitation. That’s some relief: language always
is—but how are we to “determine” that the rings of Saturn do not move as
they “ought” to, and thereby add more to the discrediting of
spectroscopy in astronomy?