690 



Chronicles of Science. 



[Oct., 



Elements Compared with Aldebaran. 





Coincident. 



Not Coincident. 



1. 



Hydrogen 



with lines C and F 



Nitrogen 



three lines 



2. 



Sodium 



„ 



double line D 



Cobalt 



two lines 



3. 



Magnesium 



„ 



triple line b 



Tin 



five lines 



4. 



Calcium 



„ 



four lines 



Lead 



two lines 



5. 



Iron 



n 



four lines and E 



Cadmium 



three lines 



6. 



Bismuth 





four lines 



Barium 



two lines 



7. 



Tellurium 



»> 



four lines 



Lithium 



one line 



8. 



Antimony 



it 



three lines 







9. 



Mercury 



„ 



four lines 













70 lines measured. 







Elements 



Compared with a. Orionis (Betelgeux). 







COINCIDENT. 



Not Coincident. 



I. 



Sodium 



with double line D 



Hydrogen 



CandF 



2. 



Magnesium 



99 



triple line b 



Nitrogen 



three lines 



3. 



Calcium 



n 



four lines 



Tin 



five lines 



4. 



Iron 





three lines and E 



Lead 



two lines 



5. 



Bismuth 



SJ 



four lines 



Gold? 





6. 



Thallium ? 





80 lines measure 



Cadmium 

 Silver 

 Mercury 

 Barium 

 Lithium 

 d. 



three lines 

 two lines 

 four lines 

 two lines 

 one line 



The 70 or 80 lines measured represent some of the stronger only 

 of the numerous lines which are seen in the spectra of these stars. 

 Some of these are probably due to the vapours of other terrestrial 

 elements which have not teen compared with these stars. It would 

 be assumption to suppose that the sixty-five so-called elements 

 constitute in its entirety the primary material of the universe. 

 Doubtless in the spectra of the stars the chemist is introduced to 

 many new elements — would that it were possible for him to recognize 

 and to isolate them I 



From the additional knowledge which these spectrum observations 

 give us, we are entitled to conclude that in plan of structure the stars 

 closely resemble the sun. The source of their light is probably solid 

 matter, in a highly incandescent state. Around this photosphere, 

 there exists an atmosphere of vapours of such of the elements of the 

 stars as are volatile at their high temperature. 



A community of matter appears to exist throughout the visible 

 universe, for the stars contain many of the elements which exist in 

 the sun and earth. 



It is remarkable that the elements most widely diffused through 

 the host of stars are some of those most closely connected with the 

 living organisms of our globe, including hydrogen, sodium, mag- 

 nesium, and iron. 



Spectrum observations applied to the nebula? appear to authorize 

 the following opinions of the nature and structure of those of the 

 nebulae which gave a spectrum of bright lines : — 



1. The light from these nebulae emanates from intensely heated 

 matter existing in the state of gas. This conclusion is corroborated 



