THE NUMBklt OF bTARS IN OUR UNIVERSE.

Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 62, 10 September 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE NUMBklt OF bTARS IN OUR UNIVERSE.

M. Hcrmite, a French astronomer, has made some curious mathematical observations concerning the number of the stars. According to his computations, the total number of stars visible to the naked eye of an observer of average visual power does not exceed 6000. The northern hemisphere contains 2478, and tho southern hemisphere contains 3307 statH. In order to sec this number of stars, the night must be moonless, the sky cloudless, and the atmosphere pure. Here the power of the unaided eye stops. An opera glass will bring out 20,000 ; a small telescope will bring out at least 150,000 ; and the most powerful telescopes that have been constructed will show more than 100,000,000 stars. M. Hermite concludes that the light emitted by all the stars upon the whole surface of the globe is equal to one-tenth of the light of the full moon. According to Sir William Herschel, the light ofthe full moon is equal to that of 27,408 stars of the first magnitude. The light of all the stiirs is therefore equal to 27,408 stars of tbe first magnitude. Using these data in carrying out the law, the astounding result is reached that the Bum of aM the stars down to the twentieth and a half magnitude is 66 millions of millions !