ASTRONOMY ASTRONDI Copyright, 1896 The Chautauqua-Century Press, Meadville, Pa., U. S. A. The required books of the C. L. S. C. are recommended by a Council of six. It must, however, be understood that recommendation does not involve an approval by the Council, or by any member of it, of every principle or doctrine contained in the book recommended. M PREFACE. ASTRONOMY is at once the most ancient and the noblest of the physical sciences. For thousands of years successive generations of men have gazed with admiration and delight at the brilliant orbs which glitter in the diadem of night. The shining constellations, the roving planets, the ever-changing moon, the splendid Galaxy, a celestial river bedded by suns and banked by the ether, all these display their beauties before the ravished eye. "The sky Spreads like an ocean hung on high, To the study of these inspiring objects our book is devoted. Their story is told with plainness and simplicity. The standpoint adopted is that of the astronomer, who observes, records what he sees, studies his observations, digs out the truths which they contain, and weaves them into laws and theories which embrace the visible universe, reaching from unknown depths of past ages up to unmeasured heights of futurity. The historical development of the science is sketched. An explanation of the apparent daily motion of the heavens is given. The chief constellations are set forth in detail, that the learner may have ample guidance in his endeavors to become acquainted with them. The reader is introduced to the astronomer, inspects an observatory, and becomes acquainted with the most important instruments and their uses. Thus he is prepared to listen appreciatively to an unvarnished tale, in which are set forth the principal things which are known or reasonably surmised concerning the worlds around us. The effectiveness of the presentation of the subject is much enhanced by the illustrations, for many of the finest of which the thanks of both reader and author are due to the directors of the Lick and Harvard College Observatories, and to the editors of Popular Astronomy, Knowledge, and The Astrophysical Journal. Notice of any error will be gratefully received by the author, whose address is Chamberlin Observatory, University Park, Colorado. |