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قراءة كتاب Comets and Meteors Their phenomena in all ages; their mutual relations; and the theory of their origin.
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Comets and Meteors Their phenomena in all ages; their mutual relations; and the theory of their origin.
COMETS AND METEORS:
THEIR PHENOMENA IN ALL AGES;
THEIR MUTUAL RELATIONS;
AND THE
THEORY OF THEIR ORIGIN.
BY
DANIEL KIRKWOOD, LL.D.,
PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS IN INDIANA UNIVERSITY, AND AUTHOR OF "METEORIC ASTRONOMY."
PHILADELPHIA:
J. B. LIPPINCOTT & CO.
1873.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1873, by
DANIEL KIRKWOOD, LL.D.,
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.
PREFACE.
The origin of meteoric astronomy, as a science, dates from the memorable star-shower of 1833. Soon after that brilliant display it was found that similar phenomena had been witnessed, at nearly regular intervals, in former times. This discovery led at once to another no less important, viz.: that the nebulous masses from which such showers are derived revolve about the sun in paths intersecting the earth's orbit. The theory that these meteor-clouds are but the scattered fragments of disintegrated comets was announced by several astronomers in 1867:—a theory confirmed in a remarkable manner by the shower of meteors from the débris of Biela's comet on the 27th of November, 1872.
To gratify the interest awakened in the public mind by the discoveries here named, is the main design of the following work. Among the subjects considered are, cometary astronomy; aerolites, with the phenomena attending their fall; the most brilliant star-showers of all ages; and the origin of comets, aerolites, and falling stars.
It may be proper to remark that the language used by the writer in a volume[1] published several years since, and now nearly out of print, has been occasionally adopted in the following treatise.
Bloomington, Indiana, April, 1873.
CONTENTS.
| PAGE. | |
| Preface | 3 |
| CHAPTER I. | |
| A General View of the Solar System | 9 |
| CHAPTER II. | |
| Comets | 13 |
| Comets Visible in the Day-Time | 15 |
| Periodic Comets | 18 |
| CHAPTER III. | |
| Comets whose Elements indicate Periodicity, but whose Returns have not been recognized | 31 |
| CHAPTER IV. | |
| Other Remarkable Comets | 39 |
| CHAPTER V. | |
| The Position and Arrangement of Cometary Orbits | 43 |
| CHAPTER VI. | |
| The Disintegration of Comets | 49 |
| CHAPTER VII. | |
| Meteoric Stones | 57 |
| CHAPTER VIII. | |
| Shooting-Stars—Meteors of November 14 | 69 |
| CHAPTER IX. | |
| Other Meteoric Streams | 82 |
| CHAPTER X. | |
| The Origin of Comets and Meteors | 94 |
I.
COMETS.
COMETS AND METEORS.
CHAPTER I.
A GENERAL VIEW OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM.
A descriptive treatise on Comets and Meteors may properly be preceded by a brief general view of the planetary system to which these bodies are related, and by which their motions, in direction and extent, are largely influenced.
The Solar System consists of the sun, together with the planets, comets, and meteors which revolve around it as the centre of their motions. The sun is the great controlling orb of this system, and the source of light and heat to its various members. Its magnitude is one million three hundred thousand times greater than that of the earth, and it contains more than seven hundred times as much matter as all the planets put together.
Mercury is the nearest planet to the sun;