The Stars: A Study of the Universe |
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Common terms and phrases
actual Algol apical motion appear astronomers average Beta Lyræ binary systems body bright lines brighter stars brightest brilliancy Campbell catalogue celestial sphere centre century chapter cluster colour components conclusion constellation dark lines density determined direction distance double stars earth eclipses emitted equal Eta Aquila fact faint fainter follows galaxy greater Harvard Observatory heavens Herschel hydrogen hydrogen lines increase Kapteyn latter less LICK OBSERVATORY limit lucid stars mass measured Milky naked eye nearly nebula number of stars observations Observatory orbit Orion parallactic motion parallax Pegasi period photographic Pickering planet plates position proper motion question R. A. Dec radial motion radius ratio remarkable revolving round right ascension seems seen Sirius sixth magnitude solar apex space spectra spectroscope spectroscopic binary spectrum square degrees star-density stellar supposed surface telescope temperature tion tude variable stars variation velocity visible wave-length zone
Popular passages
Page 286 - How charming is divine Philosophy! Not harsh and crabbed, as dull fools suppose, But musical as is Apollo's lute, And a perpetual feast of nectared sweets, Where no crude surfeit reigns.
Page 28 - Now came still evening on, and twilight grey Had in her sober livery all things clad; Silence accompanied; for beast and bird, They to their grassy couch, these to their nests Were slunk, all but the wakeful nightingale ; She all night long her amorous descant sung , Silence was...
Page 123 - It may be glorious to write Thoughts that shall glad the two or three High souls, like those far stars that come in sight Once in a century ; — But better far it is to speak One simple word, which now and then Shall waken their free nature in the weak And friendless sons of men...
Page 226 - Tis ours to trace him only in our own. He, who thro' vast immensity can pierce, See worlds on worlds compose one universe, Observe how system into system runs, What other planets circle other suns, What vary'd Being peoples ev'ry star, May tell why Heav'n has made us as we are.
Page 56 - Remov'd far from our humane sight: But if we stedfast looke, We shall discerne In it as in some holy booke, How man may heavenly knowledge learne.
Page 264 - To God's eternal house direct the way ; A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold, And pavement stars, as stars to thee appear, Seen in the galaxy, that milky way Which nightly, as a circling zone, thou seest Powder'd with stars.
Page 38 - Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades, or loose the bands of Orion ? Canst thou bring forth Mazzaroth in his season ? or canst thou guide Arcturns with his sons ? Knowest thou the ordinances of heaven ? canst thou set the dominion thereof in the earth...
Page 178 - There is one phenomenon among the fixed stars worthy of mention which, so far as I know, has hitherto been noticed by no one, and indeed cannot be well observed except with large telescopes. In the sword of Orion are three stars quite close together. In 1656, as I chanced to be viewing the middle one of these with the telescope, instead of a single star, twelve showed themselves (a not uncommon circumstance). Three of these almost touched each other, and, with four others, shone through a nebula,...
Page 56 - Almighty's mysteries to read In the large volumes of the skies. For the bright firmament Shoots forth no flame So silent, but is eloquent In speaking the Creator's name. No unregarded star Contracts its light Into so small a character, Removed far from our human sight, But if we steadfast look, We shall discern In it, as in some holy book, How man may heavenly knowledge learn.
Page 153 - This earth ? reciprocal, if land be there, Fields and inhabitants. Her spots thou seest As clouds, and clouds may rain, and rain produce Fruits in her soften'd soil, for some to eat Allotted there; and other suns perhaps, With their attendant moons, thou wilt descry, Communicating male and female light, Which two great sexes animate the world, Stored in each orb perhaps with some that live.