An original theory or new hypothesis of the universe: $b founded upon the laws of nature, and solving by mathematical principles the general phænomena of the visible creation; and particularly the via lactea ...Wright, Thomas
Philosophy
An original theory or new hypothesis of the universe: $b founded upon the laws of nature, and solving by mathematical principles the general phænomena of the visible creation; and particularly the via lactea ...
Wright, Thomas
Astronomy -- Early works to 1800
Hence we may imagine some Creations of Stars may move in the Direction
of perfect Spheres, all variously inclined, direct and retrograde;
others again, as the primary Planets do, in a general Zone or Zodiack,
or more properly in the Manner of _Saturn's_ Rings, nay, perhaps Ring
within Ring, to a third or fourth Order, as shewn in _Plate_ XXVIII.
nothing being more evident, than that if all the Stars we see moved
in one vast Ring, like those of _Saturn_, round any central Body, or
Point, the general Phænomena of our Stars would be solved by it; see
_Plate_ XXIX. _Fig._ 1. and 2. the one representing a full Plane of
these Motions, the other a Profile of them, and a visible Creation at
B and C, the central Body A, being supposed as _incognitum_, without
the finite View; not only the Phænomena of the _Milky Way_ may be
thus accounted for, but also all the cloudy Spots, and irregular
Distribution of them; and I cannot help being of Opinion, that could
we view _Saturn_ thro' a Telescope capable of it, we should find his
Rings no other than an infinite Number of lesser Planets, inferior to
those we call his Satellites: What inclines me to believe it, is this,
this Ring, or Collection of small Bodies, appears to be sometimes very
excentric, that is, more distant from _Saturn's_ Body on one Side than
on the other, and as visibly leaving a larger Space between the Body
and the Ring; which would hardly be the Case, if the Ring, or Rings,
were connected, or solid, since we have good Reason to suppose, it
would be equally attracted on all Sides by the Body of _Saturn_, and by
that means preserve every where an equal Distance from him; but if they
are really little Planets, it is clearly demonstrable from our own in
like Cases, that there may be frequently more of them on one Side, than
on the other, and but very rarely, if ever, an equal Distribution of
them all round the _Saturnian_ Globe.
How much a Confirmation of this is to be wished, your own Curiosity may
make you judge, and here I leave it for the Opticians to determine.
I shall content myself with observing that Nature never leaves us
without a sufficient Guide to conduct us through all the necessary
Paths of Knowledge; and it is far from absurd to suppose Providence may
have every where throughout the whole Universe, interspersed Modules of
every Creation, as our Divines tell us, Man is the Image of God himself.
Thus, Sir, you have had my full Opinion, without the least Reserve,
concerning the visible Creation, considered as Part of the finite
Universe; how far I have succeeded in my designed Solution of the _Via
Lactea_, upon which the Theory of the Whole is formed, is a Thing will
hardly be known in the present Century, as in all Probability it may
require some Ages of Observation to discover the Truth of it.
It remains that I should now give you some Idea of Time and Space; but
this will afford Matter sufficient for another Letter.
_I am_, &c.
[Illustration]
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