403 
[Chase. 
ordinates become normal if we examine the daily curve of second means, 
which shows subordinate maxima on April 19th and April 24th. 
Of the meteoric ordinates suggested by Wolf. four correspond with 
minima, nine with ascents, seven with maxima. and six with descents in 
the auroral curve. Of the six apparently abnormal ordinates, only two, 
those of March 31st and Nov. 19th, are on descending inflections of the 
auroral daily curve of second means. 
There seems, therefore, good reason to look for an increase of auroral 
displays, soon after every meteoric shower. 
PLANETARY ILLUSTRATIONS OF EXPLOSIVE OSCILLATION. 
By Puiny EARLE CHASE. 
(Read before the American Philosophical Society, May 16th, 1872.) 
The secondary centre of gyration in an exploded gas, on its return 
towards the centre of gaseous mass, being, as I have shown, at “i 
(h representing the extreme excursion consequent on the explosion), we 
may reasonably expect, by referring the planetary masses to similar 
} primary and secondary centres, to obtain evidence relative to the proba- 
bility of the hypothesis of molar and molecular correlations. Whether the 
nebular hypothesis be true or false, the planets are oscillating under the 
combined action of centrifugal and centripetal forces. In their continual 
virtual fall towards the Sun, they are subject to such disturbances as arise 
from their mutual interaction, and should, therefore, tend to arrange 
themselves somewhat like the particles of an exploded gas. I submit the 
following exemplifications of such a tendency, the calculations being 
generally based upon the hypothesis that the planets are either in con- 
junction, or nebulously diffused along the entire line of their orbits. 
: ‘ dh 
1. Mercury is near the theoretical mean excursion es ) of the centre 
of gravity of the intra-asteroidal belt of planets. 
5 Mercury* 35> .8871— 1.2903 
Venus 25 .7233—18.0832 
Earth 8l.8d5cl. 31.85 
Mars 1.5237== 5.079 
63.52 .8864—56.3025 
2<,8864—.4924 from the centre of gravity, or .3940 from the Sun, the 
true distance being .3871 ; $249—=1.0178. 
2. The actual eccentricity of Mercury’s orbit : the theoretical eecen- 
tricity if the oscillation were referred primarily to the intra-asteroidal 
: 
i 
| 
* The values of the astronomical elements are taken from Norton’s Astronomy, unless 
a otherwise stated. 
