224 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



DRIFTING OF THE STARS. 



By kichaed a. pkoctor, b. a., 



HON. SECRETARY OF THE EOTAL ASTKONOMICAL SOCIETY. 



FROM time to time, during the last three years, I have brought 

 before the readers of this magazine the various arguments and 

 considerations on which I have based certain new views respecting the 

 constitution of the sidereal universe. In so doing I have had occasion 

 to deal chiefly with facts already known, though not hitherto viewed 

 in that particular light in which I sought to place them. Indeed, it is 

 an essential part of my general argument that much that is contained 

 in observations already made has been escaping us. In the eagerness 

 of astronomers to ascertain new facts, they have been neglecting the 

 interpretation of facts already ascertained. 



But I have long felt that it would greatly tend to advance the new 

 views which I have advocated, if some process of research, pursued by 

 one of those astronomers of our day who possess the requisite means 

 and leisure for prolonged inquiries, should confirm in a clear and deci- 

 sive way some definite point of my new theories. Thus, if new obser- 

 vational evidence should be found in favor of my theory that the nebu- 

 las are not external to our galaxy, or if new evidence should be ob-. 

 tained to show that the stars are aggregated in certain regions within 

 our system and segregated from others ; or, again, if my theory of 

 star-drift should be confirmed by new and striking evidence, I felt that 

 a greater measure of confidence in my analysis of former evidence 

 would thenceforward be accorded. I had no occasion, indeed, to com- 

 plain of cavil or opposition ; in fact, a degree of attention had been 

 given to the new opinions I advocated which was certainly much 

 greater than I had looked for. But there must always be such an 

 inertia in the general weight of opinion in favor of accepted views, 

 that only a steady reiteration of reasoning during a long period, or else 

 some striking and impressive discovery, can cause the weight of opin- 

 ion to tend in the contrary direction. 



I cannot but regard myself as most fortunate in finding the first 

 confirmation of my views (1) coming from one of the most eminent 

 astronomers and physicists of the day, (2) bearing upon one of the 

 most definite and positive of my vaticinations, and (3) relating to one 

 of the most interesting subjects in the whole range of recent astro- 

 nomical research. 



It will be in the remembrance of many readers of this magazine 

 that, nearly four years ago, Dr. Huggins succeeded in showing that 

 the bright star Sirius is travelling at an enormously rapid rate away 

 from us. In other words, besides that rapid thwart-motion which is 

 shifting the place of this star upon the heavens, the star has a rapid 



