Stellar Evolution and Its Relations to Geological Time

"Stellar Evolution and Its Relations to Geological Time" by James Croll is a scientific book from the 1800s that explores where the sun and solar system get their energy and how that relates to geological time, especially looking at ideas about how stars are born and what that means for understanding the Earth's age and changes. It argues against the common idea that gravity is the main source of the sun's energy. The book kicks off by discussing the source of energy in space, suggesting gravity isn't the only answer. Croll introduces his "Impact Theory," which says that stars, like our sun, came from hot, gassy clouds created when huge, dark stars crashed into each other. Croll talks about the basics of his theory, highlighting how important it is to understand where things like meteorites, comets, and nebulas come from, and how this will help figure out how old the sun's heat is in connection to geological time.