LECTURE ON "ASTRONOMY."
On Wednesday evening last the Rev. J. Thomas delivpred an instructive lecture on " Astronomy" in the Volunteer Hall, Hamilton. There was a large attendance. The lecture was illustrated by means of pictures, shown by a magic lantern ; by this means the lecturer's remarks were brought more clearly to the liiiuds of his audience. Mr Thomas firat described the orbits of different planets round tho sun, illustrating the same by a slide, depicting the orbit* and the proportionate lengths of time in which the planets completed their circle. Comets, the lecturer stated were eccentric in their orbits, for the greater part of their course they are invisible, and come into sight only when ne iring the sun, always with their head towards that luminary. The size of the sun as it appears from different planets was referred to and demonstrated by a view, giving the comparative sizes, showing that whilst at Mercury it would appear many times larger than it does t i us on this planet, oa the planet Uranus it would seem to be but a star of the third or fourth magnitude. The sun spots were described. The spots are variable in size and number, and cnnsi-t of two part*—the nucleus and umbra. They have a common motion across the sun's disc; they go off at one limb and after an interval reappear at the opposite one, and it is conjectured from this that the apparent motion of the spots across the sun's disc is imparted to them by the revolution of the sun upon its axis. Photographs of lunar landscape's were shown, and the lecturer stated that the brightest parts of tho inonn's surface were the mountains of the moou and the less luminous portions the plains. The volcanoes in the moon are supposed to be all although a few years ago it was thought there were signs that one at least had again become active. An illustration of the knowledge astronomers had gained of the geography of Mars was given, the lecturer stating that these scientists had been enabled to map out its surface, and distinguish it continents and seas, which have been named. Mr Thomas also explained the various proofs by which it is known tho form of the earth ia almost spherical, viz., by the horizon, by circumnavigation, and by the appearance of the earth's shadow on the moon during an eclipse, when it always appears to be spherical. Partial, total, and annnlar eclipses were explained and representations givan of them. One very striking illustration of the infinity of space was shown by a picture depicting a section of the constellation of Gemini, in which with the naked eye Mr Thomas stated it isimpossible to discern more than six or seven stars, but which by the powerful aids of the telescope and photography are now known to contain no less than fifty millions of worlds. The phenomena of meteors and meteoric showers was referred to, Mr Thomas stating that the opinion is held by some that meteorites are matter which at some time or other in the history of this planet were thrown off from it, and that when they fall to the earth they are but returning to their old home. We are unable to enter more fully into the lecture which was a very mstructivo one, and judging fronr. the applause was much appreciated. At the close of the lecture, many comic pictures were exhibited for the benefit of the young folks, and from the spontaneous and unanimous ye'ls of delight which came from the stage end of the hall, where the Sunday-scholars were quartered, this was not, in the youngsters' opinion, tli3 least interesting part of the entertainment. Before the audience dispersed. Mr Thomas thanked them for their patronage, which had exceeded his expectation, and announced that encouraged by this, he would in all probability deliver another lecture shortly on, "A Tour Round the World." The string band was in attendance and played several selections in first-class style.
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Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3133, 13 August 1892, Page 2
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670LECTURE ON "ASTRONOMY." Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3133, 13 August 1892, Page 2
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