114. 115. The Polar Cap in July and August, 1892. 116. Canals in August, 1892 . 117. The Cap Diminishing, August 24-9, 1892. 118. Asteroid Trail on a Photograph of the Pleiades. 119. Jupiter . 256 285 . 287 130. A Besprinkling 290 . 293 132. 298 302 128. Photograph of Rordame's Comet, showing Masses of Matter driven off into the Tail. 129. Comet c, 1893 (Brooks) 131. Photograph showing a Meteor's Path among the Stars A Meteorite seen July 27, 1894 133. Outlines of Dark Structures in the Galaxy 134. A Part of the Milky Way in Cygnus 135. Motion of the Components of a Double Star 136. A Rich Portion of the Milky Way . . 140. The Nebula of Orion Photographed. Exposure, fifteen minutes 324 141. The Nebula of Orion Photographed. Exposure, two hours 324 142. The Nebula of Orion Photographed. Exposure, nine hours · 325 143. A Drawing of the Central Part of the Great Nebula in Orion 329 144. The Ring Nebula in Lyra. 334 C. L. S. C. MOTTOES. WE STUDY THE WORDS AND THE WORKS of God. LET US KEEP OUR HEAVENLY FATHER IN THE MIDST. NEVER BE DISCOURAGED. LOOK UP AND LIFT UP. A STUDY OF THE SKY. CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION AND HISTORICAL SKETCH. "The heavens declare the glory of God: And the firmament sheweth his handywork." spheres. THE starry spheres which roll and shine, uncounted millions, in the infinite depths of space call us away The starry from the common things of earth, and bid us plume our spirits for the loftiest flights. Not in the garish glory of the day, when men's eyes are well-nigh blinded by the affluence of light which the sun pours forth, and their minds are caged in the narrow round of daily toil, are the wonders of the sky revealed. But when the clangor and roar of the world's traffic have died away, and the last glint of the retiring sun has vanished from the mountain top; when the soft shades of the evening twilight gradually melt into the darkness of the night, and the blessed shadow of the earth steals over the abodes of The blessed men, bringing rest and refreshment of mind, then come forth the troops of radiant orbs, filling the sky with their splendid array, and giving to the mind of the beholder a portion of their own eternal calm. "The starry skies, they rest my soul, Its chains of care unbind, And with the dew of cooling thoughts Refresh my sultry mind. "And like a bird amidst the boughs I rest, and sing and rest, Among those bright dissevered worlds, shadow. Mysteries are unraveled. Powerful instruments. With this calmness of mind comes reflection, followed by a keen thirst for knowledge. The enigma of the universe is thrust upon the beholder, and he accepts the challenge to solve it. Year after year, century after century, has the dauntless mind of man climbed the arduous steep which leads to a knowledge of the stars. Each defeat has stimulated it to greater exertions and more glorious victories. Barrier after barrier has been surmounted or broken down. Difficulty after difficulty has vanished before persistent effort. Ingenious and powerful instruments have been devised, which reveal wonders otherwise unimagined, and the end is not yet. Each new telescopic giant is expected to win fresh laurels in old fields of endeavor, or to make discoveries which shall link its name forever with the stars. When the great thirty-six-inch glass, the fame of which has spread throughout the world, was set up on Mt. Hamilton, a poet's fancy was stirred, and he addressed the ensuing lines to the lens.* 66 Perchance that thou *"Handbook of the Lick Observatory," page 76. |