]90 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 



Take a stone 92,882,000 miles from the earth, i. e. 185,764,000 from the 

 Sun, and let fall. It will approach the Sun, but while passing the orbit of the 

 earth, its velocity will be same as the earth's orbital motion. Therefore, spaces 

 once fallen through by planets to acquire their velocities were equal to their pre- 

 sent distances from the Sun. 



The tangent A B slides round the solar orbit, the Sun forever moving to- 

 wards B, hence most bodies approaching from that direction traverse paths mak- 

 ing some angle with A B and cannot, therefore, make impact on the Sun. Their 

 directions and velocities will cause them to miss the target and escape solar flames. 

 Celestial bombardment is unskillful, cosmic missiles rarely hit the mark. 



Towards B, may be termed front; A, rear, — then masses from front, not 

 colliding with the Sun, will pass perihelion to the rear, and vice versa; while from 

 other points, perihelia will fall at all distances and directions from the Sun's 

 centre. Some astronomers hold that now, B is in right ascension lyh., and 

 north decHnation 35° — the direction of solar motion. Bodies find it difficult to 

 strike the Sun ; few strike it at all, and less — with maximum velocity. 



In this publication for May, 1882, we took this position and claimed that 

 maximum heat of conservation of velocity seldom obtains. 



Bombardment does not supply much of the Sun's heat. Most masses run 

 down spirals making circuit often in retarding gases before colliding. Velocity 

 must fall below 270.79 miles per second, which motion is then in direction tang- 

 ent to the solar surface before cosmical masses richochet, This question of 

 velocity is one of importance in astronomical researches, and worthy the atten- 

 tion of all. 



New Windsor, III., July 17, 1884. 



PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



SCIENTIFIC PROGRESS.! 



A. R. FULTON. 



Like most institutions of a similar character, ours may seem to be of slow 

 growth, but I have confidence in its ultimate success. Associations of this kind 

 are not likely to attract the masses, for the reason that their objects are purely 

 intellectual, and do not appeal to the emotional or sensational nature of men. 

 Yet, by a careful investigation of the problems which nature presents for thought 

 and study, we find enough that is marvelous, enough that excites wonder and 

 admiration, to lead us very soon to feel the force of the declaration that "Truth 

 is stranger than fiction." There are indications of a steadily increasing interest 



1. An address read before the Iowa State Academy of Science, July 8, 18SJ. 



