Table Of ContentFew astronomers will deny that their
branch of science is undergoing a far-
reaching revolution. Modern radio tele-
scopes, spacecraft instruments, and
computer image-processing techniques
have recorded a universe populated with
quasars, pulsars, faster-than-light objects,
and a host of other celestial species
never imagined by astronomers confined
to the telescope. In addition, a large
residue of unexplained telescope obser-
vations exists: strange lunar lights,
spoke-like markings on Venus, intra-
mercurial planets, and similar enigmas.
To form the collection presented within
these covers, the complete files of several
astronomical journals, such as Observa-
tory, Journal of the British Astronomical
Association, Sky and Telescope, Monthly
Notices of the Royal Astronomical
Society, and Popular Astronomy were
scrutinized in detail. This lengthy research
has yielded over 500 articles and pertinent
excerpts describing erratic meteors,
zodiacal light anomalies, challenges
to the Theory of Relativity, and many
other controversial subjects.
Although designed primarily as a
reference book, this handbook reads as
intriguing nonfiction. Open it anywhere
and you will find fascinating accounts
of strange things seen in the sky and
photographed by the astronauts and
space probes. It is an ideal stimulus for
high school and college science classes
and a unique source of ideas for term
papers and theses. The 500 articles and
120 illustrations provide an unparalleled
collection of reliable information for
science, layman and student.
MYSTERIOUS UNIVERSE:
A HANDBOOK OF
ASTRONOMICAL
ANOMALIES
Compiled by
WILLIAM R. CORLISS
Illustrated by John C. Holden
Published and Distributed by
The Sourcebook Project Glen Arm, MD 21057
Copyright © 1979 by William R. Corliss
ISBN 0-915554-05-4
LC 78-65616
NOTICE
This handbook is one of a series published by the
Sourcebook Project, P. O. Box 107, Glen Arm,
MD 21057. The handbooks and closely related
loose-leaf sourcebooks may be purchased directly
from the Project. Write for details and prices.
First printing: March 1979
Printed in the United States of America
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Preface
Chapter 1. THE SUN...................................................................... 1
Chapter 2. VULCAN: THE LOST
INTRAMERCURIAL PLANET.................................. 45
Chapter 3. MERCURY................................................................... 72
Chapter 4. VENUS
Introduction............................................................................... 87
The Figure of Venus.................................................................. 87
Possible Markings on Venus.....................................................110
Transient Venusian Phenomena................................................121
Possible Atmospheric Effects................................................... 125
Rotational and Orbital Anomalies............................................ 128
Puzzling Physical Parameters................................................... 134
Neith, the Lost Satellite of Venus............................................. 136
Chapter 5. THE ENVIRONS OF EARTH....................................... 144
Chapter 6. THE MOON
Introduction................................................................................158
Optical (?) Phenomena in Lunar Observation...........................159
Eclipse Phenomena................................................................... 178
Puzzling Lunar Surface Features.............................................. 196
Transient Lunar Phenomena (TLPs).........................................219
Lunar Physical and Chemical Anomalies.................................242
Lunar Orbital Anomalies...........................................................259
Chapter 7. METEORS AND METEORITES
Introduction................................................................................266
Meteors in Flight.......................................................................266
Analysis of Fallen Meteors........................................................299
Chapter 8. THE ZODIACAL LIGHT...............................................343
Chapter 9. MARS
Introduction................................................................................372
Features of the Martian Surface................................................373
Transient Martian Phenomena.................................................. 406
The Moons of Mars...................................................................423
Chapter 10. JUPITER
Introduction................................................................................431
Surface Features........................................................................ 431
Idiosyncrasies of the Jovian Satellites.......................................444
Chapter 11. SATURN.....................................................................465
Chapter 12. THE PLANETS BEYOND SATURN.......................... 493
Chapter 13. ENIGMATIC OBJECTS............................................. 499
Chapter 14. COMETS.................................................................... 527
Chapter 15. BODE’S LAW AND OTHER
SOLAR-SYSTEM REGULARITIES........................538
Chapter 16. STARS, GALAXIES, AND COSMOLOGY
Introduction............................................................................... 564
Anomalous Celestial Objects....................................................564
Cosmological Enigmas..............................................................611
Extraterrestrial Radiation..........................................................647
Tests of Relativity..................................................................... 659
Physical Laws and Constants....................................................679
SUBJECT INDEX .......................................................................... 702
PREFACE
This book’s title is an intentional echo of Sir James Jeans’ classic
THE MYSTERIOUS UNIVERSE. Jeans’ book was exciting astronomy: vast
island universes suspended in the immensity of space; stars beyond count-
ing with ample space for other inhabited worlds. But the astronomy of
my youth is no more. Astronomy is still exciting; but the universe no
longer seems so orderly. Rather it is a maelstrom of chemical and phy-
sical surprises: forces, energies, and radiations that Jeans never dreamt
of. There may be biological surprises, too. Astronomical anomalies are
accumulating rapidly. Questions are coming faster than answers. More
than ever, it is a mysterious universe.
The primary objective of this handbook is to provide libraries and
individuals with a wide selection of reliable descriptions of unusual astro-
nomical phenomena. To meet this goal, I have analyzed hundreds of
volumes of astronomical journals as well as the complete files of Nature
and Science. The result of this research is an incomparable collection
of information on the frontiers of astronomy. From this assemblage, I
have selected the most interesting and controversial for this book.
My criteria for selecting “anomalous” data were: (1) the information
contradicted current astronomical theories, or (2) the article raised per-
sonal questions not answered adequately to my knowledge. Usually both
criteria were satisfied simultaneously. Much of the information printed
herein will prove controversial, particularly that selected from amateur
astronomical publications. It will soon become obvious to the reader that
secondary objectives are the posing of challenges to establishment science
and the stimulation of useful controversy.
I make no claim to completeness because new and relevant material
is being discovered constantly as my search of the literature continues.
Indeed, the near-infinite mine of observatory reports, university theses,
and foreign journals has scarcely been touched. Even so, I have collect-
ed much more intriguing astronomical information than I can conveniently
publish here. However, the complete master file is being published in
looseleaf “sourcebooks”. The Sourcebook Project welcomes inquiries
concerning these cumulative sourcebooks.
The looseleaf sourcebooks were, in fact, the first publications of the
Sourcebook Project. Although thousands of these notebooks have been sold
to libraries, feedback from librarians indicated that casebound books would
be more acceptable. Such suggestions were a major factor in the decision
to publish selections from our collection in a series of casebound hand-
books.
My hope is that this handbook will become a standard reference work
on the frontiers of astronomy. To this end, I have utilized reports taken
primarily from scientific journals. The screening provided by editors and
referees of these publications helps to minimize hoaxes and errors. In
expectation that establishment astronomy is too conservative and too con-
fined by dogmas, I have introduced a handful of articles from fringe peri-
odicals and books that are doubtless considered offbeat and “wild” by most
professional astronomers.
Most of the 120 illustrations consist of line drawings by John C. Holden
and are based on sketches and photos in the original articles. Since many
of the articles are decades old, it was impossible to ferret out all original
photos. Actually, in the older literature, line drawings predominate in
any case.
Since the bulk of this handbook consists of direct quotations from
original sources, I hasten to acknowledge the many writers of papers,
letters-to-the-editor, and sundry publications who have contributed these
descriptions of phenomena. When lengthy quotations are taken from pub-
lications still protected by copyright, permissions have been obtained.
William R. Corliss
Glen Arm, Maryland
January 2, 1979
