How wondrous a sight did James think the Milky Way! Evening after
evening would he stare at the weird-looking object. Moonlight eclipsed
it, as sunlight the stars. The atmosphere through which we contemplate
the heavens at times obscures their glory. That dreamy radiance is
easily concealed from view. The bold planet looks down upon us with
an unblinking eye. The fixed stars peep more coyly, with an uncertain
lustre. The Milky Way, yet more retiring, seldom deigns to do more than
glance timidly at us here. With our magnificent climate in Australia,
we are favoured beyond most countries with its soft, peculiar light.
“What is a Nebula, father? said James.
A white, cloudy patch in the heavens. There are about five thousands of
them scattered about space.
You said the Milky Way was made up of stars and Nebulæ, and that many
patches of white, when looked at with a good telescope, turn out to be
only lots of stars.
Yes. These are the _Resolvable_ Nebulæ. But there are
_Irresolvable_,--that is, some of them still look cloudy with our best
telescopes. Can you find me a Nebula in Orion?
What must I look for?
A small, distinct, white patch of light.
No; I don’t see it.
Look again. Do you see the Belt, with a bright star over it, and one
about the same distance below it?