QB 
 
 UC-NRLF 
 
 Ts 
 
IN MEMOKJAM 
 
 George Davidson 
 
 Professor of Geography 
 University of California 
 
TEE SUN 
 
 changes its position in space, there- 
 fore it cannot be regarded as being 
 "in a condition of rest." 
 
 5V concedifnus, e#s, qni corpora in mundi 
 spatio moveri eademque non moveri 
 posse dicunt, insulsa loqui, praesumere 
 non licet hominem astronomum talem 
 sententiam elocntnrum utqite earn de- 
 monstrarct operani datiirum esse. 
 
 By 
 
 August /Tischner. 
 
 Leipzig, 
 
 Gustav Fock. 
 
 1883. 
 
THE SUN 
 
 changes its position in space, there- 
 fore it cannot be regarded as being 
 "in a condition of rest." 
 
 Si concedimus, ?os, qui corpora in mundi 
 spatio moveri eademqite non moveri 
 posse diamt, insnlsa logtti, praesumere 
 non licet hominem astronomum talem 
 sententiam elocntuntm utqne earn de- 
 monstraret operam daturum esse. 
 
 By 
 
 August Tischner. 
 
 Leipzig, 
 
 Gustav Fock. 
 1883. 
 
Dedicated 
 to all friends of Rational Astronomy. 
 
 M290197 '* 
 
Copernicus. 
 
 
 Terrae motor, soils stator. 
 
Ihe system of Copernicus is the only 
 possible system; it is the eternal base of all 
 astronornical progress, with this system the 
 science of Astronomy stands and falls, and with- 
 out it we must give up all explication as well 
 as every scientifically founded predication. 
 Hence it is clear that an astronomer of the 
 present day cannot enter upon any other system, 
 even by way of trial. 
 
 Dr. ,/. H. Mddler. Popul. Astr. 1861. 
 p.p. 48. 54. 62. 
 
An army of philosophers will not 
 suffice to change the nature of 
 an error and to convert it into 
 truth. Ebn-Roshd (Averrhoes), 
 Arabian philosopher of the XII '' 
 century. 
 
 Astronomical science, at the present day 
 insists upon the system of Copernicus, which, 
 as is well known , is based upon the theory 
 of a fixed sun, and remains convinced of the 
 incontrovertible truth and importance of this 
 system, even after it has become an incontes- 
 table fact, that the sun changes its position; 
 endeavouring to explain away this discrepancy 
 by the sophism, that the sun may be con- 
 sidered as In a condition of rest. But the 
 smallest movement of the sun overthrows the 
 entire fabric of Copernicus. Unless we take into 
 
10 
 
 account the observations , made for the last 
 3000 years, respecting the movement of the 
 sun in space, it is impossible to comprehend 
 the solar system and its movements. Theory 
 must take notice of the phenomena of the sun's 
 own movement and dare not cloak it under 
 imaginary causes; for so long as the motion 
 of the sun is ignored, it is impossible to know 
 thoroughly the motion of the earth which 
 follows it , and if the motion of the earth be 
 not known, it is also impossible to know the 
 motion of the other heavenly bodies, belonging 
 to the solar system, as seen from the earth. 
 In a word, the astronomical theory, as it is 
 now generally accepted and believed to be the 
 only and doubtless true , is wholly untenable, 
 requiring a total and essential reformation; 
 astronomical authors cling to J. H. Madler's 
 assertion, that every body will understand the 
 impossibility for an astronomer of our time 
 to enter upon any other system even by way 
 of trial. 
 
 If this theory be converted into a dogma, 
 stagnation must commence and all progress 
 becomes impossible. In the history of science 
 
11 
 
 and its advance, we find that there have been 
 at all times new theories propounded, which 
 had often to be changed later on, or even set 
 aside by others diametrically opposite. The 
 principal circumstance which renders the 
 system of Copernicus impossible , is that the 
 orbits of the planets are considered as closed 
 curves around the sun. This view has fre- 
 quently been attacked; but it is maintained 
 by astronomers, as it is requisite for the eluc- 
 idation of the system. Still it is evident that 
 if the centre of attraction moves forward the 
 bodies attracted by it cannot move around it. 
 
 Let us examine the system of Copernicus. 
 Ptolemseus first introduced his system among 
 the ancients. The earth was the fixed centre 
 of the world and around it moved the moon, 
 the sun, the planets and the stars. This system 
 lasted for XV centuries. 
 
 The Ptolemaic system was modified by 
 Copernicus, and the system of Copernicus was 
 simply the inversion of the Ptolemaic. The 
 sun took the place of the earth. In the centre 
 was a fixed point (earth or sun), around which 
 the planets moved in larger or smaller orbits. 
 
12 
 
 The main feature of both systems is that 
 one of the heavenly bodies is stationary, in 
 order that the others may travel round it. 
 
 Copernicus makes the sun to be motionless, 
 and the scientific world bows before his autho- 
 rity. Then we have the recurrent curves, 
 closed orbits (or ellipses) with their axes and 
 their invariable plains, for the planets move 
 round the centre of the fixed sun. 
 
 Whilst however learned men were striving 
 with feverish ardour to confirm the system of 
 Copernicus; whilst they were endeavouring to 
 demonstrate in every possible way and by various 
 means clearly, that the sun is immoveable: 
 there came the discovery that the sun moves. 
 
 The astronomers of the past century proved 
 that the sun not only has the apparent motion, 
 which every one sees; but that it also has a 
 motion proper +o itself. Herschel commenced 
 defining the course and direction of it, and 
 now-a-days no one doubts the truth of this 
 fact, it being the general opinion that not 
 only the sun moves itself, but that nothing 
 at all in the world is in a state of rest. Astro- 
 
13 
 
 nomers, however, are of opinion that this dis- 
 covery is of no consequence whatever as regards 
 the system of Copernicus, which is still consi- 
 dered by them to be the most correct of all and 
 the only possible one. For more than a cent- 
 ury there has not been found a single astro- 
 nomer or scientific man, to whom it has oc- 
 curred that the motion proper to the sun, 
 might have, in some ivay or (mother,, an in- 
 fluence on the present state of theoretical science. 
 They all seem to regard this fact as an ac- 
 cident, involving no consequence^ and quite 
 incapable of distracting them from their labours, 
 which they continue to work in the same 
 mauner as is indicated in the system of 
 Copernicus. 
 
 If an advancing motion is admitted to be 
 the motion proper to the sun, the wrbits tra- 
 versed by the planets cannot be closed. 
 
 But the question may be asked: is it true 
 that science contradicts itself in this way? We 
 reply: Yes! astronomical observation has over- 
 taken theoretical or explicative science. Theory 
 has stood still. 
 
14 
 
 In order to set their minds at rest, learned 
 men explain what they wish to explain , and 
 just as heavenly phenomena were accounted 
 for according the systems of Ptolemaeus, of 
 Copernicus and of Tycho de Brahe, so too 
 there will be no lack of good reasons to ac- 
 count for the -motion proper to the sun; only 
 history will tell us that the astronomers of 
 the last but one decennium of the XIX th century 
 have taught by writing and speaking in their 
 schools, that the sun is at the same time moving 
 and not moying. 
 
 A science which cannot make any use of 
 this immense discovery, nor deduce any ap- 
 plication from it, does not possess any vital 
 power ; it is a dead science, it is strangled by 
 those whose duty is to keep it alive, to 
 lead it onwards to perfection. 
 
 Astronomers assert "that the sun conducts 
 its system with himself in mundane space" 
 but in the same breath they add: "with 
 reference however to the planets it may be 
 regarded as in a state of rest" 
 
 Hence astronomers have discovered a motion 
 which is at rest. 
 
15 
 
 If the sun is not fixed, the system of 
 Copernicus falls to ground. Either the sun 
 moves, or does not; a moving sun in a con- 
 dition of rest, is an impossibility. 
 
 If the sun moves, there is no fixed centre, 
 there are no closed or recurrent curves and 
 no plains of orbits. If these must be ob- 
 tained at any price, the sun must be definitively 
 fixed, it cannot be permitted to move onwards 
 and yet at the same time not to move. 
 
 The fact that the sun moves, cannot now 
 be altered and cannot be any longer ignored; 
 and if mathematicians and astronomers do not- 
 withstanding assert, that the sun may with 
 reference to its own planetary system be 
 regarded as fixed, or in a condition of rest, 
 in that the system moves as a whole without 
 any change taking place in the relative position 
 of the planets to each other, or in their 
 relation to the sun ; in fact without any alte- 
 ration taking place in the configuration of the 
 system we reply, this is one of those 
 meaningless phrases, which should find no 
 place in a scientific discussion. A body which 
 
16 
 
 is in motion cannot be in any way regarded 
 as being motionless , 'it would be just as 
 reasonable to say that a locomotive, dragging 
 a train of carriages full of passengers, could 
 with reference to the latter be regarded as 
 motionless. 
 
 The actual meaning of such an assertion is 
 that the planets are attached to the sun in 
 such a manner, that they can neither approach 
 to, nor recede from it, but must follow it 
 whithersoever it goes. 
 
 We may in thought pursue a train of 
 hypotheses and suppositions, but they do not 
 thereby acquire reality; still, in a normal 
 condition of the human intellect, it is impossible 
 to conceive that any thing can exist and not 
 exist at the same time. 
 
 From this confusion of ideas, it might seem 
 as if theoretical astronomy had got into an 
 untenable position which is irreconcilable with 
 science and ought therefore to endeavour 
 to enter upon a better state , as soon as 
 possible. Tlieory ought therefore, either to 
 have accepted as a fact, the motion proper 
 
to the sun with all its inevitable consequences, 
 or else, to have denied this motion altogether. 
 But the astronomers ignore this alternative, 
 they have decided, once for all and irrevocably 
 that the sun moves and that at the same time 
 it shall be motionless. In this manner science 
 loses its reputation and all learnedly technical 
 expressions and formulas are not sufficient to 
 cover the weak part. The sun cannot be 
 rendered motionless, and if astronomers and 
 men of science of the present day continue 
 to ignore this fact, they need not be sur- 
 prised at the inevitable consequences of their 
 own acts. 
 
 The system of Copernicus presupposes the 
 jixitij of the sun 7 as a "conditio sine qua 
 non." The most abstruse investigations into 
 the "celestial mechanism" could not be made 
 without this axiom be granted. The mathema- 
 tician must have a fixed point, a fixed central 
 point of action for his coordinates, he wants 
 fixed invariable plains and closed curves, a 
 radius vector describing plains, he wants axes 
 and poles for the orbits, in order that they 
 may describe certain figures in the heaven, and 
 
 2 
 
18 
 
 that the plains of the orbits may move , - 
 one of the other. 
 
 Naturally astronomers and men of science 
 have never asked themselves the question, how 
 a heavenly body could be fixed in space. 
 
 When an astronomer asserts that the Co- 
 pernician system is the only possible, he believes 
 that it is impossible for the sun to have any 
 motion of its own; when he at the same time 
 asserts that all astronomy stands or falls with 
 this system, he believes that no astronomical 
 knowledge existed before the discovery of the 
 Copernician system , and with the fall of the 
 system all astronomical knowledge will cease 
 to exist ; he believes moreover true astronomy 
 to be that, which men of science have ima- 
 gined to be the truth regarding the heaven 
 and the causes of the phenomena we see. 
 
 If astronomers had merely presented their 
 ideas and opinions to the world as such, and 
 no more, no one could raise any objection; but 
 they lay down their opinions in words and on 
 paper as a positive science, they give their 
 view as incontroversible truths, and tins fact 
 
19 
 
 alters the situation, for we cannot admit that 
 science is a mere barge to be taken in tow 
 by the imagination. 
 
 The fundamental axiom of astronomical 
 theory, such as the Copernician system, Kepler's 
 and Newton's laws , are not derived from a 
 knowledge of fact 7 they are the opinions, views, 
 ideas and suppositions of individuals, which 
 have been adapted to the heaven, and as they 
 were generally accepted, the question was 
 never raised whether the opinions of an organic 
 creature however intelligent it might be are 
 really and truly that which we term penetrating 
 behind the veil of nature and compelling it 
 to yield up its secrets. The fact of no other 
 ideas being at hand which seemed be to better, 
 sufficed to transform these opinions into rules 
 and to cause them to be accepted as the only 
 admissible and correct truths. 
 
 The opinions set forth by Copernicus, Kepler 
 and Newton are designed by astronomers of 
 the present day under the collective title of 
 the Copernician system, and they believe that 
 these three dogmas, systems and laws, distinct 
 
 2* 
 
20 
 
 as they are from each other, proceed conse- 
 quentially one from the other , that they 
 mutually supplement each the other, and thus 
 form a harmonious whole. That not one of 
 these things rests upon actual observation or 
 even probable and perceptible facts, and finally, 
 that none of them can be observed or verified, 
 but that they are all three creations of the 
 imagination, must be clearly evident to any 
 one who occupies himself at all with the study 
 of nature and more especially with the study 
 of the heavenly phenomena. 
 
 When we say that astronomy is an earthly 
 science, we mean to imply that the heaven 
 and the phenomena there apparent cannot be 
 studied otherwise than as seen from the earth. 
 Therefore astronomy is not a heavenly science, 
 it consists solely of such ideas as we are able 
 to form, that which we see on the heaven. 
 
 It is not astronomy that is grand, compared 
 with the vast objects with which it deals it 
 dwindles to insignificance, and we may say 
 that to speak of it as being a science of 
 the ^heavenly mechanism," nay more of the 
 
21 
 
 *laws of the universe," is sheer nonsense. The 
 universe must be for us a mere term, which 
 does not convey any tangible idea to our 
 minds. 
 
 As only a very small portion of the heavenly 
 space and its contents is visible to our eyes, 
 astronomy whatever may be the magnifying 
 power placed at its disposal must be confined 
 within the limits of our vision and can there- 
 fore be no more than a small fragment. 
 
 In the positive sense of the word, astronomy 
 is more especially a science of observation, 
 which is its only, but real and successful 
 power. If may be said that astronomy has 
 raised observation to a science, and its im- 
 mense importance becomes more and more 
 prominent as the explicative science loses 
 in value; which is the more easily accoun- 
 ted for by the fact that observation will 
 finally bring about the overthrow of all untenable 
 theories. 
 
 We see the heaven as we fly along, the 
 earth whirls us with itself through space, hence 
 astronomy cannot make any drawing room 
 
22 
 
 experiment, it cannot reproduce any of the 
 heavenly phenomena, it can do nothing but 
 observe. If therefore the science of astronomy 
 be more especially an observative science, that 
 which it does not and cannot observe, must 
 be for it as good as not existent. But astronomy 
 may, in addition, be designated the science 
 of observation of the apparent things, things 
 as they seem to be , for it is unable to see 
 or regard the heavenly phenomena otherwise 
 than they present themselves to it. Astronomy 
 is not permitted to observe realities. 
 
 If therefore observation is itself a science^ 
 it must necessarily be the basis of theory' 
 observation may be set aside which is what 
 is actually done in this way we may plod 
 on, we may term our labour what we please ; 
 but whatever is produced in this way is not 
 astronomy. 
 
 But that glorious science whose sublime 
 object is alone able to unfetter the mind of 
 poor humanity Astronomy has a future 
 before it. Any such as feel themselves called 
 upon to sludy seriously the phenomena of 
 
23 
 
 nature , may set about the task. The sun is 
 a sure guide. 
 
 The great mass of astronomical observations 
 are almost exclusively of European origin, those 
 which in later times have been made in other 
 parts of the earth , are of a special character 
 - they refer for the most part to the stars 
 and are not numerous enough to furnish 
 any general view, but here the question is of 
 establishing a universal astronomy available 
 for the whole earth, which, founded of the 
 actual type of the phenomena, will become 
 the result of science. 
 
 With respect to astronomical knowledge 
 and its dissemination, the discovery and pro- 
 ving of this type of the phenomena is of the 
 greatest importance, they must be found out 
 not by calculation, but by actual observation. 
 When discovered, a large number of important 
 and still undecided problems will be advan- 
 ced towards solution. 
 
 It may be asked : how and where shall we 
 however find this original type? and the earth 
 itself supplies the answer by means of its 
 
24 
 
 Equator. No observer, placed either north 
 or south the equator, can see the two poles 
 of the heaven at once, he cannot see the 
 whole heavenly sphere; at the equator the 
 entire splendour of the firmament passes before 
 his eyes during the space of - - 12 hours. 
 
 The equator of the earth is always turned 
 towards the sun , and it thus indicates the 
 direction taken by our planet ; therefore we 
 must be able to find this type at the equator. 
 Either it is there, or it is nowhere else, and 
 it is indispensably necessary that astronomical 
 observations made elsewhere should be repeated 
 at the equator thus as it were confirmed. 
 
 The erection of small, simple and detached 
 observations along the line of the earth's 
 equator, at certain distances from each other, 
 and the subdivision of the work amangst the 
 various observers, according the objects, would 
 be of incalculable consequence, and would in 
 the course of a few years shed more light upon 
 astronomical knowledge than all that has hith- 
 erto been done at hap - hazard and without 
 any plan. An international scientific society 
 
25 
 
 could take the matter in hand. Instruments 
 of the most excellent kind are to be had in 
 plenty, and there is no lack of young and 
 intelligent men. Moreover, ever since 1874 
 there has been established at Quito, the tf Ob- 
 servatorio de Collegio Naeional," the director 
 of which Mr. G. B. Menton might superintend 
 the preliminary operations until such time as 
 the work could be prosecuted with greater 
 resources and according to a well considered 
 plan. Such men as Lick, Bischoffslieim, 
 Remeis etc., who are willing to make sufficient 
 sacrifices in order to establish this glorious 
 science upon more solid foundations, which 
 do not rest on an imaginary and untenable 
 theory, but on actual observation, will surely 
 be found. Success cannot be doubtful. Would 
 not the Americans, who appreciate every thing 
 on a grand scale and are not afraid of any 
 expense in their undertakings, do all in their 
 power to further and promote this splendid 
 work?*) 
 
 *) Moreover, other, smaller detached observatories, 
 might l)e erected on the east and west coasts of 
 
26 
 
 If as is well known matters are 
 not as they are assumed to be, to what pur- 
 pose have been and are these laborious works 
 prosecuted and the undying works written ? 
 If the imaginary is prefered to reality, we 
 set up an imaginary science, without knowing 
 anything about the heaven, and the science 
 thus set up will become the plaything of 
 fancy. 
 
 If they inquire , why theory denies reality 
 - the motion of the sun we shall find 
 that it is because it prefers the imaginary. The 
 sun in motion destroys the found illusions of 
 the astronomers, this they will not submit to, 
 their untenable theory must continue to be 
 looked upon as unadulteratest truth, and the 
 consequence is that the manifestations of the 
 
 America and Africa, on the islands of Sumatra, Borneo^ 
 Celebes and Gilolo , on one of the islands ol Gilbert's 
 archipelago and upon one of the Gallopagos islands, 
 if it be considered worth the effort to acquire some 
 real knowledge as to the movement in space of the 
 leader of our planetary system and the bodies pertaining 
 to it. 
 
27 
 
 grand and sublime Nature are put down 
 as lies. 
 
 This idea of a fixed sun has taken such 
 a firm hold of men's minds that there is no 
 force in nature capable of exercising sufficient 
 power to eradicate it, the sun may move as it 
 pleases, and whilst the whither and rapidity 
 of its motion are diligently studied , men's 
 minds are occupied with its fixity , and these 
 "investigations and inquiries" are prosecuted 
 without any consequences being therefrom 
 deduced. Directly a theory or a law is to 
 be set up, the sun is at once very firmly fixed 
 on - - ether. Astronomical writers consider 
 that they have done quite enough, when they 
 have accorded honorable mention to the motion 
 of the sun, but their deductions, conclusions, 
 theories , proofs and laws are all based on the 
 immobility of the sun, according the system 
 of Copernicus. 
 
 The idea that the motion of the sun does 
 not necessitate any alteration in the system 
 of Copernicus leads' us to the utmost absur- 
 dity. If the earth is to move in the invariable 
 
28 
 
 plaw of its recurrent and closed ellipse, it stands 
 to reason, it cannot follow the sun, and the 
 "circulation around the centre" at once falls 
 to the ground. 
 
 It is a very remarkable fact, that the astro- 
 nomers of the by-gone century could, and those 
 of the present century can believe , such as 
 Copernicus, Kepler and Newton, had they been 
 aware of the motion of the sun, would have 
 set up the same system, the same laws and 
 theories, as they based exclusively on the theory 
 of its being immoveable. This fact is one 
 of which we are right to be ashamed. 
 
 The astronomers hug themselves , with 
 great complacency, with the idea - - which 
 gradually becomes a delicious certainly that 
 they have mapped out the heaven very well, 
 and that any change in the arrangement is a 
 thing not to be thought of. If therefore any 
 one of their fellows should get up which 
 has sometimes occurred and say: "it is high 
 time that we should clear up the science and 
 subject this .untenable theory to a strict exa- 
 mination and test," the immense majority of 
 
29 
 
 facultists and authorities proclaim unanimously 
 u non pOSSliniUS," which is after all but a 
 lingual verification of the first law of the 
 nature *). 
 
 *) Inertia is the most simple and most natural (sic) 
 law of nature which can be imagined. Laplace I p. 4. 
 
31 
 
 W hy is it that the astronomers of the 
 present day are unwilling to take into con- 
 sideration and to study the consequences arising 
 from the motion proper to the sun , with 
 reference to its own system? 
 
 \\ hy is it that they are unwilling to recognise 
 or rather to gra>|i propejijy and to explain 
 the apperceivable phenomena, which the motion 
 proper to the sun, as seen from the surface 
 of the earth, must produce on the apparently 
 hollow sphere of the heaven? 
 
33 
 
 iVlonter d'une echoppe a un palais, c'est 
 rare et beau; monter de 1'erreur a la verite, 
 c'est plus rare et c'est plus beau. 
 
 Victor Hugo. 
 
 11 arrive frequemment que la croyance 
 universelle d'un siecle, croyance dont il n'etait 
 donne a personne de s'affranchir a moins d'un 
 effort extraordinaire de genie et de courage, 
 devient pour un autre siecle une absurdite si 
 palpable qu'on n'a plus qu'a s'etonner qu'elle ait 
 pu jamais prevaloir. 
 
 N. Tschernychewsky. 
 
- 35 
 
 Litterature. 
 
 1. Sta, sol, ne moveare. August Tischner. 
 
 Leipzig 18811882. Gustav Fock. 
 
 2. Grosse, Entfernung und Masse der 
 Soime. August Tischner. Leipzig 1882. 
 Gustav Fock. 
 
 3. Die Sonne und die Astronomic. K. 
 
 Nagy. Leipzig 1866. F. A. Brockhaus. 
 
 4. Memoire sur le systeme solaire et sur 
 1'explication des phenomenes celestes. 
 
 Charles Nagy. Paris 1862. Leibner. 
 
 5. Consideration sur les cometes, elements 
 de Cometologie. Charles Nagy. Paris 
 1862. Leibner. 
 
 3* 
 
36 
 
 6. Systeme solaire d'apres la marche 
 
 reelle du Soleil. E. G. Fahrner. Paris 
 
 2 n)e ed. 1869. 
 
 7. Das wahre Sonnensystem. Bewegung 
 und Bahnen der Gestirne nach einer neuen 
 Auffassung iiber dieselben im Himnfels- 
 raume, und zwar welche nicht in Ellipsen 
 statthat. James Hermann Milberg. Miinchen 
 1862. 
 
 8. Die wahre Gestalt der Planeten- und 
 
 Kometenbahnen. Friedrich Carl Gustav 
 Stieber. Dresden 1864. 
 
 9. Die Sonne bewegt sich. Folgerungen 
 aus dieser Lehre in Bezug auf die Fix- 
 sterne und Planeten. C. R. (ohrbach). 
 Berlin 1852. 
 
 10. Ueber Yeranschaulichungsmittel fur 
 mathematische Geographic. Erlauternde 
 Beigabe zu neu construirten Veranschau- 
 lichungsapparaten fiir Volksschulen und 
 hohere Unterrichtsanstalten. F. A. Piisch- 
 mann, Seuiinaroberlehrer, Grirama. 
 
37 
 
 11. Der Himmels-Mechanik ganzliche Re- 
 form auf Grand der inductiven Logik 
 
 mit der strengberechtigten philosopliischen 
 und mathematischen Nachweisung. V. P. 
 Kluk-Kluczycky. 1880. 
 
G. KREYSING, LEIPZIG. 
 
:-gsrs=^r^~ <.*- *g==-^;-- +.*- z*^<:gs^:; 
 
 Copyright not reserved. 
 
 G. KREYSING, LEIPZIG. 
 

 THE UNIVERSITY OF CAUFORNIA UBRARY