1. Principle of the Refracting Telescope ... 2. Dome of the South Equatorial at Dunsink Observatory, Co. Dublin 3. Section of the Dome of Dunsink Observatory 13. Scheiner's Observations on Sun-spots 15. Texture of the Sun and a small spot PAGE 11 12 13 15 16 17 19 24 27 30 31 32 33 36 ... 38 16. Dr. Huggins' Drawing of a remarkable arrangement of Solar Granules 39 27. 28. 24. The Earth's Shadow and Penumbra Subsequent Feeble Activity Formation of the Level Floor by Lava 47 52 55 55 57 60 73 73 74 88 ... 90 91 92 93 104 110 113 114 125 132 43. Paths of Venus across Sun in the Transits of 1874 and 1882 49. The Zone of Minor Planets between Mars and Jupiter THE STORY OF THE HEAVENS. "THE Story of the Heavens" is the title of our book. We have indeed a wondrous story to narrate; and could we tell it adequately, it would prove of boundless interest and of exquisite beauty. It leads to the contemplation of the mightiest efforts of nature and the greatest achievements of human genius. Let us enumerate a few of the questions which will be naturally asked by one who seeks to learn something of those glorious bodies which adorn our skies: What is the Sun-how hot, how big, and how distant? whence comes its heat? What is the Moon? What scenery do its landscapes show? how does the moon move? how is it related to the earth? What of the planets-are they globes like the earth? how large are they, and how far off? What do we know of the satellites of Jupiter and of the rings of Saturn? What was the memorable discovery of Uranus? and what was the supreme intellectual triumph which brought the planet Neptune to light? Then, as to the other bodies of our system, what are we to say of those mysterious objects, the comets? can we perceive order to reign in their seemingly capricious movements? do we know anything of their nature and of the marvellous tails with which they are often decorated? What can be told about the familiar shooting-star which so often dashes into our atmosphere to perish in a streak of splendour? What do we know of those constellations which have been from all antiquity, and of the myriad hosts of smaller stars which our telescopes disclose? B |