Symmes's Theory of Concentric Spheres: Demonstrating that the Earth is hollow, habitable within, and widely open about the polesMcBride, James
Science
Symmes's Theory of Concentric Spheres: Demonstrating that the Earth is hollow, habitable within, and widely open about the poles
McBride, James
Earth (Planet) -- Miscellanea; Symmes, John Cleves, 1780-1829
Modern astronomers have long noticed the spots frequently visible on
the sun. They are described as having the appearance of vast holes,
or fractures, in his outer surface or crust, through which an inner
appears to be seen. This, also, seems to favour the doctrine of
different spheres. Notwithstanding the sun revolves very slowly on his
axis, it is probable that his poles are open to a greater or less
extent; but we can never see into them, owing perhaps to the earth,
never being very far from the plane of the sun's equator, his being
such a vast deal larger than the earth, and the atmosphere surrounding
him so extremely luminous.
Very little doubt exists in my mind, that the poles of the sun and
of Jupiter would appear somewhat like those of Mars or the rings of
Saturn, were it not that the two former never present their axes, in
any perceptible degree, towards us; neither does our satellite, the
moon, ever present either of her poles to us: hence, though this may
be in some degree open, (notwithstanding her slow rotation) owing to
her axis always being nearly at right angles with a line drawn to the
earth, we are not able to see whether they are open or not,――more
especially as her atmosphere is so light and rare as not to produce
much refraction. The vast round deep caverns observable on the surface
of the moon, appear as if they might once have been polar openings; if
so, she must frequently have changed her axis.
The spots of light which have at different periods been discovered by
astronomers, on the surface of the moon, near her poles, when she was
on the face of the sun, in an eclipse of that luminary, are perhaps
best accounted for by supposing the sun to shine in, either at one
of her polar openings or through a cavity on her further side, and
appearing to us through one of her annular cavities, on this side, and
near her poles: Or the sun being much larger than the moon, and the
axis of the moon a little varied from right angles with the earth, (or
perhaps the low side of the sphere being next to the earth,) the sun
would shine through an annular cavity or open pole, so as to appear to
us as a spot of light on the moon's disk.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account