168 Falling Stars and Meteorites. 



That our whole solar system is occupied more or less thickly 

 by particles of matter of the same kind ; that these are collected 

 into masses, varying in size from the dust that no microscope 

 can render visible, to the huge planet Jupiter, and the sun itself, 

 compared with which all the known solid bodies of our system 

 are as nothing; that all these parts to our system are mutually 

 dependent, working together and performing some useful pur- 

 pose ; that there are abundant means by which waste can be 

 supplied and a perfect balance constantly preserved ; — all this 

 is so perfectly consistent with what we know generally of the 

 course of nature, and the good providence that has ordered all 

 things, that the idea commends itself to our experience and 

 would be accepted at once by most of us. But if it is so, if 

 really this is the explanation of the phenomena of meteors, fire- 

 balls, falling stars and aerolites ; if these are but the dust of 

 our system, they yet seem to follow some definite law, not 

 unlike that which governs our own movements round the sun. 

 Crossing as we do the direction of this strange pell-mell of 

 waste material chiefly at certain periods of the year, it would 

 seem that it is a belt having definite boundaries ; but as, on the 

 other hand, though it is on special days that the phenomena 

 are chiefly recognized, there are few nights of the year in which 

 there are not some, there must either be many other such 

 belts constantly crossed, or, which is more probable, all space 

 is thus partially occupied, although there are certain limited 

 and definite groups revolving in an orbit round the central 

 mass of the sun. 



But finally, if our own solar system is thus made up, why 

 should not others be so ? Why should not whole systems 

 consist of matter less collected into large globes, and more 

 spread in fragments; and why should not some or all of 

 them be self luminous ? Such a state of matter might well 

 produce the anomalous appearances presented by unresolved 

 nebula', and they would even accord pretty well with the most 

 recent observations on many groups of what has already been 

 culled star-dust. It may be wild and fanciful to dream of 

 possible explanations ; but where, as in these celestial pheno- 

 mena, the actual facts are so few, who can help speculating 

 from even fche least proved analogies, if they seem to afford a 

 rational cine f 



There is no department Of science more fascinating than 

 the discussion of these physical problems. But they must not 

 induce us to believe thai astronomy can bo studied by thus 

 revelling in fanciful dreams of celestial possibilities. They arc 

 not without, interest; but this is not to be estimated at more 

 than its real value. 



