1 9 1 2-i 9 1 3.] Some Astronomical Problems. 39 



and our ability to solve. The past study of the heavens, 

 while making so much clear to us, has now presented for 

 our contemplation problems of greater difficulty than ever. 

 Nevertheless, the mind of man is nothing if not speculative, 

 and there is quite an eager readiness to forestall the results 

 of definite scientific research, making use of the meagre evi- 

 dence that we have ready to hand. It is curious, too, with 

 what positive assertions theories so based are put forward, 

 and oftentimes the more positive in an inverse ratio to the 

 soundness of the premises. 



This little paper is only intended to draw our attention to 

 a few astronomical problems awaiting solution, and to discuss 

 from a common-sense standpoint the current theories regarding 

 them. 



One problem that has taxed the ingenuity of the scientific 

 mind for a long time is centred in the Sun, the great central 

 power-house of our system and our only source of energy. 

 Whence come the immense supplies of light and heat that he 

 is constantly pouring forth ? 



Till lately there were two solutions of the problem put 

 forward. First, that the supply of heat and light is main- 

 tained by the fall of meteoric matter into the sun itself, the 

 kinetic energy of the falling bodies being transformed into 

 the energy of light and heat. A careful consideration of this 

 theory shows that it is quite inadequate to afford a solution. 

 Many geologists maintain that the sun's light and heat 

 in long past geological ages was probably much about the 

 same as at present. If that is so, then we have to reckon 

 with many millions of years instead of hundreds of thousands 

 for a steady and not a variable supply of light and heat. 

 The astronomical result of this theory, if true, would be to 

 increase materially, in such long ages, the mass of the sun, 

 and consequently to shorten the year. 



A second and better theory was based on the very probable 

 supposition that no part of the sun is solid or even fluid, but 

 gaseous throughout. There is good ground for this idea, 

 because the density of our luminary is only one-fourth that 

 of the earth. The theory supposes, then, that the sun being 

 gaseous, his immense bulk and gravitational force have already 

 compressed these gases to the consistence of a treacly fluid. 



