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IN

DESCRIPTIVE ASTRONOMY.

BY

J. DORMAN STEELE, PH.D.

AUTHOR OF THE FOURTEEN-WEEKS SERIES IN NATURAL SCIENCE.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament
showeth his handiwork."-PSALM XIX, I.

A. S. BARNES &

COMPANY,

NEW YORK, CHICAGO, AND NEW ORLEANS.

8407
876

BY THE SAME AUTHOR.

PHYSIOLOGY.

ZOOLOGY.

CHEMISTRY.

(New Nomenclature.)

CHEMISTRY.

(Old Nomenclature.)

PHILOSOPHY.

GEOLOGY

(Revised Edition.)

Key containing Answers to the Practical Questions and Problems, Post-paid, $1.25.

Copyright, 1869. A. S. BARNES & CO.

29

PREFACE.

DURING the past few years great advances have been made in astronomical science. A new horizontal parallax of the sun has been established. This has materially altered the estimated distances, etc., of the planets. The sun is much nearer us than we supposed, and light has lost a little of its wonderful velocity. Much additional information has been obtained concerning Meteors and Shooting Stars. The investigations connected with Spectrum Analysis have been especially suggestive. Thus on every hand the facts of Astronomy have been accumulating. As yet, however, they are scattered through many expensive foreign works, and are consequently beyond the reach of most of our schools. It has been the aim of the author to collect in this little volume the most interesting features of these larger works. Believing that Natural Science is full of fascination, he has sought to weave the story of those far-distant worlds into a form that may attract the attention and kindle the enthusiasm of the pupil. The work is not written for the information of scientific men, but for the inspiration of youth. The pages therefore are not burdened with a multitude 07

of figures which no memory could possibly retain. Mathematical tables and data, Questions for Review, and also a Guide to the Constellations, are given in the Appendix, where they may be useful for constant reference.

The author would call particular attention to the method of classifying the measurements of Space, and the practical treatment of the subjects of Parallax, Harvest Moon, Eclipses, the Seasons, Phases of the Moon, Time, Nebular Hypothesis, and precession (p. 230.)

To teachers heretofore compelled to use a cumbersome set of charts, it is hoped that the star maps here offered will present a welcome substitute. The geometrical figures showing the actual appearance of the constellations, will relieve the mind confused with the idea of numberless rivers, serpents, and classical heroes. The brightest stars only are given, since in practice it is found that pupils remember the general outlines alone.

Finally, the author commits this little work to the hands of the young, to whose instruction he has consecrated the energies of his life, in the earnest hope that, loving Nature in all her varied phases, they may come to understand somewhat of the wisdom, power, beneficence, and grandeur displayed in the Divine harmony of the Universe.

"One God, one law, one element,

And one far-off Divine event

To which the whole creation moves."

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