THE ETHER OF SPACE
A stationary target will be penetrated in the
direction A Y, and this line will point out the
correct position of the source when the received
disturbance started. If the target moves, a dis-
turbance entering at A may leave it at Z, or
at any other point according to its rate of
motion; the line Z A does not point to the
original position of the source, and so there will
be aberration when the target moves. Other-
wise there would be none.
Now, Fig. 2 also represents a parallel beam of
light travelling from a moving source, and
entering a telescope or the eye of an observer.
Fic. 3.—Beam from a Revolving Lighthouse.
The beam lies along A BC D, but thia is not the
direction of vision. The direction of vision, to a
stationary observer, is determined not by the
locus of successive waves, but by the path of
each wave. A ray may be defined as the path
ot a labelled disturbance. The line of vision
is Y Al, and coincides with the line of aim;
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