M. Haidinger on the Original Formation of Aerolites. 451 



aphelion. The Sun himself, however, as before shown, far from 

 being stationary, is moving with considerable velocity through 

 stellar space. While the Earth has received an increase of 

 450,000 lbs., it has completed its orbital movement round the 

 Sun (2r7r, r being the average distance of our globe from the 

 Sun) ; and in the same space of time, by sharing in the progres- 

 sive movement of the solar system as a whole, it has run through 

 a space of llr. It may be sufficient to admit for the case in 

 question, the approximative expressions \/(121+47r 2 ), and even 

 13r (instead of 12-65r). If we compare mutually the space (s) 

 run through by the Earth, and the space (S) run through by the 

 whole solar system in one year (even if we admit for s nearly 

 double the diameter of Neptune's orbit — 120 times the Earth's 

 distance from the Sun, — and for the diameter of our globe itself, 

 in round numbers say 2000 [German] miles, far exceeding it, its 

 real value = 0*0001r), we obtain the following numbers : — 

 S:s = 120 2 xll :13x0-0001 2 



= 14,400 x 100,100,100 x 11 : 13 

 = 1,440,000,000,000 x 11 : 13 

 = 15,840,000,000:13 

 = 1,218,460,000,000:1. 

 The space-number of more than one billion, multiplied by 

 450,000 lbs. (the supposed yearly increase of our globe), gives in 

 pounds the total weight or mass of meteoric matter existing and 

 moving about in every direction within the space above assigned 

 to our solar system. This sum, of over half a trillion of pounds, 

 is, however, not very considerable when compared with the weight 

 of our own globe, calculated to amount to 13^ quadrillions of 

 pounds*. If we suppose these 450,000 lbs. of meteorites to be 

 united into one sphere, the diameter of this sphere would be to 

 the diameter of our globe as 1 to 290"8. 



The weight of the terrestrial globe is always to the total weight 

 (450,000 lbs.) of meteorites moving m every direction withiu the 

 space annually run through by our solar system as 24 millions 

 are to unity. These are then the calculated results arising out 

 of the above-mentioned supposition. A far greater proportion 

 of solid matter distributed into small bodies would be obtained, 

 if we were allowed to take into account the great number of me- 

 teors visible within our atmosphere in the shape of shooting-stars, 

 and bolides that do not apparently deposit solid matter, and 

 whose light is probably developed by compression of air, or, if 

 not in every case by actual combustion, as supposed by Reichen- 

 bach, at least (as regards meteoric iron) after the manner of 



* See Noggerath's " Geologic und Geognosie," in Badeker's ' Collec- 

 tive Publication,' p. 110. 



