. So a a 
ay a _ 
JOURNAI. AND PROCEEDINGS. 139 
THE SPHERICITY OF THE EARTH. 
Abstract of Paper read before the Astronomical Section of the Hamilton 
Sctentific Association, April 12th, 1904. 
BV REV. DR. MARSH. 
This lecture was illustrated by means of an equatorial telescope, 
transit instrument, compass, spheres, various drawings and lantern 
plate illustrations, which cannot here be represented. Below, how- 
ever, are twelve of the principal arguments for believing that our 
Earth is a sphere. 
1. The Sun is a sphere—so are the planets Mercury, Venus, 
Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. ‘The earth is of the 
same family, governed by similar laws and conditions. Why should 
it be otherwise than a sphere ? 
2. The shadow of the earth on the moon during an eclipse is 
circular. 
3. ‘he horizon to an observer is circular, which would not be 
if the Earth were other than a sphere. 
4. The Earth has been circumscribed in various directions. 
5. Stars appear to rise and set, except the north and south 
Polar Stars. These appear to describe a circle. 
6. The Earth’s crust at the Equator passes stars 1ooo + miles 
per hour; at longitude 60 degrees north or south of the Equator, 
but 500 miles per hour. 
, Lines of longitude diverge till the Equator is reached, then 
converge till the Poles are reached. A degree at the Equator east or 
west is about 69 miles ; at Hamilton a degree east or west is a little 
over 50 miles. 
8. The Sun is rising every moment of time on our Earth, 
because it is round. Were the earth flat the Sun would rise at the 
same moment al] over its surface. 
