The World of Space. By J. E. Gore. (A. D.
Lanes and Co.)— Mr. Gore describes his volume as "a series of popular articles on astronomical subjects." Astronomy is allowed on all hands to be a science which can be made both intelligible and interesting to the unlearned reader. Mr. Proctor's books were eminent examples of the art, and:theTvolume which Mr. Gore now gives us has been constructed on something of the same lines, and has attained, we think, no less success. Are the Planets Habit- able P" is the subject:discussed in the first chapter, a subject of perpetual interest, though scarcely likely to yield any practical result or even to reach any definite conclusion. It will be interesting to :give, as an example of Mr. Gore's treat- ment of his subject, a summary of his conclusions on this subject. Mercury, presenting as it does the same side always to the sun, modified, however, by a "libration" which brings within reach of the sunshine a portion of the dark aide, may have a habitable zone "comparable with the temperate zone of the earth." As to Venus, "possibly in the region surrounding the planet's poles:the temperature may be sufficiently cool to admit of some form of animal existence." He thinks that "if life ever existed on the surface of Mars it has now become extinct." It is highly improbs.ble;that there is any life in the smaller planets. "The large planets are still in a highly heated condition, and, therefore, quite unfit for the support of any forms of animal life." When we get to the possible planets which may revolve round other stars we are of course in a wholly conjectural region. It is impossible to imagine how such planets can ever be discovered. A. planet as large as Jupiter revolving round Alpha Centauri would not be visible by any appliances which we can command or
even imagine. Mr. Gore is sober and cautious in his conjectures, though he is not wanting in imagination.
Previous page
