NEW, VARIABLE, AND COMPOUND STARS. 



179 



Hercules. The velocity of this motion is such, that the sun, with the whole cortege of 

 bodies depending on him, advances annually in the direction indicated, through a space 

 equal to 1'623 radii of the terrestrial orbit, or 154 millions of miles." But though 

 advancing towards a determinate point in the heavens, it would be inconsistent mth 

 analogy, and utterly incompatible with the principle of gravitation, to suppose our system 

 to be continuously moving towards one and the same point. All the other celestial move 

 ments are curvilinear or orbital, instead of right lines. It can scarcely, therefore, be 

 doubted, that the apex of the solar motion slowly shifts its position in the sphere ; and 

 that the sun, with the planetary and cometary system, is revolving round some centre in 

 the visible heavens, which is probably a kind of grand pivot round which all the stars of 

 our firmament describe immense orbits. M. Madler has thrown out the surmise, that this 

 common centre lies in the Pleiades ; and that the star Alcyone in that group is the central 

 sun. But such speculations are premature, being far in advance of practical astronomy, 

 however probable the suppositions upon which they are based. 



