Scientists are gaining a lot of information from space satellites orbiting the earth even to the point where it is being established that the world is not perfectly round.
Instead, scientists now say the earth is shaped like a pear.
They know by measurements the top of the earth protrudes 25 feet out of the shape of a sphere and the bottom is drawn in 25 feet on the line of a sphere, according to the book "Planets."
To add to this, scientists learned from our orbiting satellites that their paths of orbit vary, indicating we don't live on a perfectly round planet.
To be more specific though, we needn't fret too much about not being round like a ball. The differences are so slight that the earth will look round to future space travelers.
The solar system of which we are a part is a fantastic thing. We often think of ourselves as being strong and doing so many big things.
But even then our lives are but a mere mention as compared with time in space.
According to the book, life on earth will end, but you and I needn't give much thought to that. By figuring mathematically the gases that are burned daily on the sun, scientists say the sun is five billion years old and will burn out in 10 billion years.
Without any sun, it's going to get cold, mighty cold.
The fantastic part about space is the possibility there is life on other planets. With the aid of man made equipment astronomers have looked as faraway as the planet Pluto.
It is believed that our sun and the earth and other planets are but a small part of a large galaxy in which there may be an untold number of suns and planets and very possibly — life.
It's a fascinating story mostly because we don't realize the distances and powers involved. Some day we may. Some day after we have launched a space platform we will be out of the earth's atmosphere and for the first time will be able to see other planets clearly with the use of telescopes.
The book states further that there is mortality in amateur astronomy because of a tradition which names discoveries after the person who discovered something new.
Take note, Mr. Tempelmeyer.