KJii^NS^S CITY 



Review of Science and Industry, 



A MONTHLY RECORD OF PROGRESS IN 



SCIENCE, MECHANIC ARTS AND LITERATURE. 



VOL. V. JUNE, 1881. NO. 2. 



ASTRONOMY. 



COMING ASTRONOMICAL EVENTS. 



BY EDGAR L. LARKIN, NEW ^VINDSOR OBSERVATORY, ILLINOIS. 



i 



Within a year, newspapers have published sensational accounts relating to 

 impending evil, and have spread the delusion that calamities were about to fall on 

 man, owing to the configuration of the planets. A spirit of astrology seems to 

 have arisen even in the midst of the light of science, and late astrologers have 

 endeavored to fill the public mind with needless fear. Wars, famine, pestilence, 

 earthquakes, deluges and hurricanes, so say the prophets, are to be of common 

 occurrence during the years 1881-82 The planets will become portentous, will 

 assume ominous positions, while the Earth, wandering in space alone, will be 

 under malign influences, making millions die. The critical period is set for June 

 19th, 1 88 1, when more planets will be on the same straight line with the Earth, 

 than has occurred during centuries of time. 



It cannot be denied that on the day mentioned, the bodies forming the 

 the solar system will be arranged in unusual positions. All the power of the at- 

 traction of gravitation existing in the system will be exerted against the earth, 

 and the combined force will have tendency to draw it nearer the sun. 



If, on June 19th, a line be drawn from the first point in Aries, through the cen 

 ter of the Sun, to the first of Libra, the solar system will be divided into two equal 

 parts, when Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune will be on one 

 side, with only the Earth, Moon and Venus on the other. Venus and the Moon will 



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