CHAPTER XV.

Construction of the solar system. Matter out of which it was formed 261 Domains of the sun out of which the matter was collected 262 Stars nearest to the sun. Table VII. showing distances 263 Remarks on Binary Stars. Table VIII. showing spheres of attraction between the sun and a very few 265 Sirius actually our nearest neighbour. Form of the sun's domains of a very jagged nature 266 Creation of matter for the nebulæ, out of which the whole universe was elaborated. Beginning of construction 267 The law of attraction begins to operate through the agency of evolution 267 Form of the primitive solar nebula. The jagged peaks probably soon left behind in contraction 268 How the nebula contracted. Two views of the form it might take. Comparison of the two forms, solid or hollow 269 The hollow centre form adopted. The jagged peaks left behind 272 The nebula assuming a spherical form. Shreds, masses, crescents separated from one side 273 Probable form of interior of nebula. Compared with envelopes in heads of some comets 274 Reflections on the nebula being hollow. Opinions of others quoted 275 The matter of a sphere solid to the centre must be inert there 276 Further proofs of the nebula being hollow 277 How rotary motion was instituted 278 Such a nebula might take one of two forms 279 The form depending on the class of nebula. Planetary in the case of the solar system. A similar conception of how rotary motion could be instituted 280