[meteorite-list] Newspaper article, 11-29-1887 Meteoric Protoplasm

From: MARK BOSTICK <thebigcollector_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:06:16 2004
Message-ID: <OE96A0BdlKaUFnKcX0b00013693_at_hotmail.com>

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Paper: New York Times
City: New York, NY
Date: November 29, 1887
Page: 4
METEORIC PROTOPLASM
The hypothesis disclosed before the Royal Society in a very elaborate pap=
er by Mr. NORMAN LOCKYER is one that will deeply interest the scientific =
world. It is not a theory hastily set up, but is the result of fourteen y=
ears' work, and is based upon a long series of experiments and comparison=
s. Mr. LOCKYER undertakes to account for the origin abd condition of all =
heavenly bodies by the cumulative force of gravity acting upon the meteor=
ites that exist in space. He builds up the universe out of meteoric stone=
s. He makes the familiar "shooting star" the seed from which stars and so=
ns and worlds are grown. We have not space to present all of his conclusi=
ons, but the following are those which seem to set forth the essence of h=
is theory:
"All self-luminous bodies in the celestial spaces are composed of meteori=
tes or masses of meteorite vapor produced by heat brought about by conden=
sation of meteor swarms due to gravity.
"The spectra of all bodies depend upon the heat of the meteorites, produc=
ed by collisions and the average space between the meteorites in the swar=
m, or, in the case of consolidated swarms, upon the time which has elapse=
d since complete vaporization.
"The existing distinction between stars, comets, and nebula rests on no p=
hysical basis.
"Now stars, whether seen in connection with nebula or not, are produced b=
y the clash of meteor swarms.
"Meteorites are formed by the condensation of vapors thrown off by collis=
ions. The small particles increase by fusion brought about again by colli=
sions, and this increase may go on untill the meteorites may be large eno=
ugh to be smashed by collisions, when the heat of impact is not sufficien=
t to produce volatilization of the whole mass."
The meteoric stone is the only material link between this planet and the =
outer regions off cosmical space. By a study of it Mr. LOCKYER has endeav=
ored to discover its functions and its power. There are enormous numbers =
of meteorites in space. The calculations of Prof. NEWTON, of Yale Univers=
ity, and other indicates that not less than 20,000,000 luminous meteors f=
all daily upon this planet, while probably nearly 400,000,00 enter our at=
mosphere in twenty-four hours. In space they tend to collect in swarms. T=
he "star showers" of August and November occur when the earth is passing =
through groups or rings of meteorites. Comets are now hold to be swarms o=
f meteorites made incandescent by the incessant collision of the individu=
al meteorites which they contain. Mr. LOCKYER would account for the forma=
tion of all celestial bodies by reference to the process by which comets =
are supposed to be made - out of meteorites subject to the grouping fourc=
e of gravitation.
To support his hypothesis he reports to spectrum analysis. The luminous p=
henomena manifested by the several classes of heavenly bodies can be to a=
 large extent reproduced in the laboratory by subjecting meteorites, so f=
ar as possible, to condition similar to those assumed by the hypothesis t=
o exist in space. If the sun, for example, be the product of meteorites, =
its spectrum ought to be reproduced in the laboratory from actual meteori=
tes volatilized at a temperature approximating that of the sun, and so wi=
th the spectra of other celestial bodies. This may indicate the nature of=
 Mr. LOCKYER'S experiments, which have served to support his theory, as l=
east to his own satisfaction.
In outline the hypothesis may be described as follows, so far as it under=
takes to account for the different classes of heavenly bodies as they are=
 now observed: At the foot of the ascending scale are the individual mete=
orites. Next above are the nebula, in which the meteorites have become gr=
ouped and by collision are furnishing a certain quantity of heat and ligh=
t. Third, the comets, and above them the several classes of stars in succ=
essive stages of meteoritic condensation or volatilization. At the top ar=
e the stars of the Sirian (?) type, in which heat evolved by condensation=
 due to gravity has reached its maximum. The highest temperature capable =
of being evolved by the forces at work having been obtained, the descendi=
ng scale begins. The gradual process of cooling is marked first by bodies=
 like our sun, next by stars of class III. b, and at the foot of the desc=
ending scale are bodies whose temperature is so low that it cannot produc=
e luminous phenomena - in short, non-luminous bodies like the individual =
meteorites with which the ascending scale began, but of greater size.
Is this the end! Does not this hypothesis require a circle rather than a =
curve made up of an ascending and a descending arm! If Individual meteori=
tes in this scheme clash and by impact develop new forms and combinations=
 does it not follow that the great non-luminous bodies also meet in terri=
ble collision! Mr. LOCKYER says:
"In recorded time there has been no such thing as a 'world on fire', or t=
he collision of masses of matter as large as the earth, to say nothing of=
 masses of matter as large as the sun: but the known distribution of mete=
orites throughout space indicates that such collisions may form an integr=
al par of the economy of nature. The number of bodies, however, subject t=
o such collision is small, and ????, it would appear, form but a small pe=
rcentage of the celestial bodies, seeing that they must be consolidated."
The collision of the great non-luminous bodies would, under this hypothes=
is, reduce enormous masses of consolidated meteorites to vapor and meteor=
ite fragments, and thus complete the circle and provide for a repetition =
of the evolutionary process.

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<HTML><BODY STYLE=3D"font:10pt verdana; border:none;"><DIV><FONT size=3D2=
> <P>Paper: New York Times</P> <P>City: New York, NY</P> <P>Date: Novembe=
r 29, 1887</P> <P>Page: 4</P> <P>METEORIC PROTOPLASM</P> <P>The hypothesi=
s disclosed before the Royal Society in a very elaborate paper by Mr. NOR=
MAN LOCKYER is one that will deeply interest the scientific world. It is =
not a theory hastily set up, but is the result of fourteen years' work, a=
nd is based upon a long series of experiments and comparisons. Mr. LOCKYE=
R undertakes to account for the origin abd condition of all heavenly bodi=
es by the cumulative force of gravity acting upon the meteorites that exi=
st in space. He builds up the universe out of meteoric stones. He makes t=
he familiar "shooting star" the seed from which stars and sons and worlds=
 are grown. We have not space to present all of his conclusions, but the =
following are those which seem to set forth the essence of his theory:</P=
> <P>"All self-luminous bodies in the celestial spaces are composed of me=
teorites or masses of meteorite vapor produced by heat brought about by c=
ondensation of meteor swarms due to gravity.</P> <P>"The spectra of all b=
odies depend upon the heat of the meteorites, produced by collisions and =
the average space between the meteorites in the swarm, or, in the case of=
 consolidated swarms, upon the time which has elapsed since complete vapo=
rization.</P> <P>"The existing distinction between stars, comets, and neb=
ula rests on no physical basis.</P> <P>"Now stars, whether seen in connec=
tion with nebula or not, are produced by the clash of meteor swarms.</P> =
<P>"Meteorites are formed by the condensation of vapors thrown off by col=
lisions. The small particles increase by fusion brought about again by co=
llisions, and this increase may go on untill the meteorites may be large =
enough to be smashed by collisions, when the heat of impact is not suffic=
ient to produce volatilization of the whole mass."</P> <P>The meteoric st=
one is the only material link between this planet and the outer regions o=
ff cosmical space. By a study of it Mr. LOCKYER has endeavored to discove=
r its functions and its power. There are enormous numbers of meteorites i=
n space. The calculations of Prof. NEWTON, of Yale University, and other =
indicates that not less than 20,000,000 luminous meteors fall daily upon =
this planet, while probably nearly 400,000,00 enter our atmosphere in twe=
nty-four hours. In space they tend to collect in swarms. The "star shower=
s" of August and November occur when the earth is passing through groups =
or rings of meteorites. Comets are now hold to be swarms of meteorites ma=
de incandescent by the incessant collision of the individual meteorites w=
hich they contain. Mr. LOCKYER would account for the formation of all cel=
estial bodies by reference to the process by which comets are supposed to=
 be made - out of meteorites subject to the grouping fource of gravitatio=
n.</P> <P>To support his hypothesis he reports to spectrum analysis. The =
luminous phenomena manifested by the several classes of heavenly bodies c=
an be to a large extent reproduced in the laboratory by subjecting meteor=
ites, so far as possible, to condition similar to those assumed by the hy=
pothesis to exist in space. If the sun, for example, be the product of me=
teorites, its spectrum ought to be reproduced in the laboratory from actu=
al meteorites volatilized at a temperature approximating that of the sun,=
 and so with the spectra of other celestial bodies. This may indicate the=
 nature of Mr. LOCKYER'S experiments, which have served to support his th=
eory, as least to his own satisfaction.</P> <P>In outline the hypothesis =
may be described as follows, so far as it undertakes to account for the d=
ifferent classes of heavenly bodies as they are now observed: At the foot=
 of the ascending scale are the individual meteorites. Next above are the=
 nebula, in which the meteorites have become grouped and by collision are=
 furnishing a certain quantity of heat and light. Third, the comets, and =
above them the several classes of stars in successive stages of meteoriti=
c condensation or volatilization. At the top are the stars of the Sirian =
(?) type, in which heat evolved by condensation due to gravity has reache=
d its maximum. The highest temperature capable of being evolved by the fo=
rces at work having been obtained, the descending scale begins. The gradu=
al process of cooling is marked first by bodies like our sun, next by sta=
rs of class III. b, and at the foot of the descending scale are bodies wh=
ose temperature is so low that it cannot produce luminous phenomena - in =
short, non-luminous bodies like the individual meteorites with which the =
ascending scale began, but of greater size.</P> <P>Is this the end! Does =
not this hypothesis require a circle rather than a curve made up of an as=
cending and a descending arm! If Individual meteorites in this scheme cla=
sh and by impact develop new forms and combinations does it not follow th=
at the great non-luminous bodies also meet in terrible collision! Mr. LOC=
KYER says:</P> <P>"In recorded time there has been no such thing as a 'wo=
rld on fire', or the collision of masses of matter as large as the earth,=
 to say nothing of masses of matter as large as the sun: but the known di=
stribution of meteorites throughout space indicates that such collisions =
may form an integral par of the economy of nature. The number of bodies, =
however, subject to such collision is small, and ????, it would appear, f=
orm but a small percentage of the celestial bodies, seeing that they must=
 be consolidated."</P> <P>The collision of the great non-luminous bodies =
would, under this hypothesis, reduce enormous masses of consolidated mete=
orites to vapor and meteorite fragments, and thus complete the circle and=
 provide for a repetition of the evolutionary process.</P></FONT><BR><BR>=
</DIV></BODY></HTML>

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Received on Thu 21 Nov 2002 12:31:01 PM PST