2 THE ROMANCE OF ASTRONOMY. BY R. KALLEY MILLER, M.A. FELLOW AND ASSISTANT-TUTOR OF ST. PETER'S COLLEGE, CAMBRidge. of the subject, and simply selecting a few points here and there which seem to afford scope for striking or amusing amplification. Since the following sheets have passed through the press, I have learnt that Professor Adams and others have thrown grave doubts upon the accuracy of the calculations upon which Professor Hansen's theory of eccentric gravitation at the moon was founded. Should this theory fall to the ground, the argument for the habitability of our satellite which was founded upon it, and which I have explained at page 65, must go with it. But it will remain as a striking and interesting episode in the history of scientific speculation. In the note to page 53 the fact of the moon's always turning the same face towards us is spoken of as a question of Rigid Dynamics. But it is possible that it may rather depend upon the earth's action on the moon while in a viscous state. I have to thank two very distinguished Members of my own College, Sir William Thomson and Professor Tait, for kind suggestions and advice. PETERHOUSE, December, 1872. |