J. R. Mayer on Celestial Dynamics. 189 
other circumstances remaining the same, the faster they move 
towards the sun: it may therefore happen that in a space of 
time wherein the mean distance of the earth from the sun would 
diminish one metre, a small asteroid would travel more than one 
thousand miles towards the central body. 
As cosmical masses stream from all sides in immense numbers 
towards the sun, it follows that they must become more and 
more crowded together as they approach thereto. The conjec- 
ture at once suggests itself that the zodiacal light, the nebulous 
light of vast dimensions which surrounds the sun, owes its 
origin to such closely packed asteroids, However it may be, 
8 much is certain, th 
sin the universe is repeated in a remarkable manner in 
the disposition of the planets and the fixed stars. 
From the great number of cometary masses and asteroids and 
the zodiacal light on the one hand, and the existence of a resist- 
ing ether on the other, it necessarily follows that ponderable 
matter must continually be arriving on the solar surface. Th 
effect produced by these masses evidently depends on their final 
Velocity ; and, in order to determine the latter, we shall discuss 
The final yelocit weight attracted by, and moving to- 
oe will become greater as the height through 
ch the weight falls increases. This velocity, however, if it 
be only produced by the fall, cannot exceed a certain magni- 
; it has a maximum, the value of which depends on the 
Volume and mass of the attracting celestial body. 
Ax. Jour. Sc1.—Szconp Series, Vou. XXXVI, No. 110.—Maxcn, 1864. 
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