[Page v]
[Greek:
TAEI PSUCHAEI
TAEI AGAPAETAEI
ASTRAPOUSAEI
KAI
ISAGGEDOI]
[Page vii]
PREFACE.
All sciences are making an advance, but Astronomy is moving at the
double-quick. Since the principles of this science were settled
by Copernicus, four hundred years ago, it has never had to beat
a retreat. It is rewritten not to correct material errors, but
to incorporate new discoveries.
Once Astronomy treated mostly of tides, seasons, and telescopic
aspects of the planets; now these are only primary matters. Once
it considered stars as mere fixed points of light; now it studies
them as suns, determines their age, size, color, movements, chemical
constitution, and the revolution of their planets. Once it considered
space as empty; now it knows that every cubic inch of it quivers with
greater intensity of force than that which is visible in Niagara.
Every inch of surface that can be conceived of between suns is more
wave-tossed than the ocean in a storm.
The invention of the telescope constituted one era in Astronomy;
its perfection in our day, another; and the discoveries of the
spectroscope a third--no less important than either of the others.
While nearly all men are prevented from practical experimentation
in these high realms of knowledge, few [Page viii] have so little
leisure as to be debarred from intelligently enjoying the results
of the investigations of others.
This book has been written not only to reveal some of the highest
achievements of the human mind, but also to let the heavens declare
the glory of the Divine Mind. In the author's judgment, there is no
gulf that separates science and religion, nor any conflict where
they stand together. And it is fervently hoped that anyone who
comes to a better knowledge of God's works through reading this
book, may thereby come to a more intimate knowledge of the Worker.
I take great pleasure in acknowledging my indebtedness to J. M.
Van Vleck, LL.D., of the U.S. Nautical Almanac staff, and Professor
of Astronomy at the Wesleyan University, for inspecting some of the
more important chapters; to Dr. S. S. White, of Philadelphia, for
telescopic advantages; to Professor Henry Draper, for furnishing,
in advance of publication, a photograph of the sun's corona in 1878;
and to the excellent work on "Popular Astronomy," by Professor
Simon Newcomb, LL.D., Professor U. S. Naval Observatory, for some
of the most recent information, and for the use of the unequalled
engravings of Jupiter, Saturn, and the great nebula of Orion.
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CONTENTS.
CHAP.
I. CREATIVE PROCESSES
II. CREATIVE PROGRESS
Constitution of Light
Chemistry of Suns revealed by Light
Creative Force of Light
III. ASTRONOMICAL INSTRUMENTS
The Telescope
The Reflecting Telescope
The Spectroscope
IV. CELESTIAL MEASUREMENTS
Celestial Movements
How to Measure
V. THE SUN
What the Sun does for us
VI. THE PLANETS, AS SEEN FROM SPACE
The Outlook from the Earth
VII. SHOOTING-STARS, METEORS, AND COMETS
Aerolites
Comets
Famous Comets
Of what do Comets consist?
Will Comets strike the Earth?
VIII. THE PLANETS AS INDIVIDUALS
Vulcan
Mercury
Venus
The Earth
The Aurora Borealis
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The Delicate Balance of Forces
Tides
The Moon
Telescopic Appearance
Eclipses
Mars
Satellites of Mars
Asteroids
Jupiter
Satellites of Jupiter
Saturn
Rings of Saturn
Satellites of Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
IX. THE NEBULAR HYPOTHESIS.
X. THE STELLAR SYSTEM
The Open Page of the Heavens
Equatorial Constellations
Characteristics of the Stars
Number
Double and Multiple Stars
Colored Stars
Clusters of Stars
Nebulæ
Variable Stars
Temporary, New, and Lost Stars
Movements of Stars
XI. THE WORLDS AND THE WORD
XII. THE ULTIMATE FORCE
SUMMARY OF LATEST DISCOVERIES AND CONCLUSIONS
SOME ELEMENTS OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM
EXPLANATION OF ASTRONOMICAL SYMBOLS
Signs of the Zodiac
Other Abbreviations Used in the Almanac
Greek Alphabet Used Indicating the Stars
CHAUTAUQUA OUTLINE FOR STUDENTS
GLOSSARY OF ASTRONOMICAL TERMS AND INDEX
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ILLUSTRATIONS
FIG.
The Constellations of Orion and Taurus
1. An Orbit resulting from Attraction and Projection
2. The Moon's Orbit about the Earth
3. Changes of Orbit by Mutual Attraction
4. Velocity of Light measured by Jupiter's Satellites
5. Velocity of Light measured by Fizeau's Toothed Wheel
6. White Light resolved into Colors
7. Showing amount of Light received by Different Planets
8. Measuring Intensities of Lights
9. Reflection and Diffusion of Light
10. Manifold Reflections
11. Refraction by Water
12. Atmospherical Reflection
13. Refracting Telescope
14. Reflecting Telescope
15. The Cambridge Equatorial Refractor
16. The new Reflecting Telescope at Paris
17. Spectroscope, with Battery of Prisms
18. Spectra of Glowing Hydrogen and of the Sun
19. Illustrating Arcs and Angles
20. Measuring Objects by observing Angles
21. Mural Circle
22. Scale to measure Hundredths of an Inch
23. Spider-lines to determine Star Transits
24. Illustrating Triangulation
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25. Measuring Distance to an Inaccessible Object
26. Measuring Elevation of an Inaccessible Object
27. Illustrating Parallax
28. Illustrating Stellar Parallax
29. Mode of Ascertaining Longitude
30. Relative Size of Sun, as seen from Different Planets
31. Zodiacal Light
32. Corona of the Sun in 1858--Brazil
33. Corona of the Sun in 1878--Colorado
34. Solar Prominences of Flaming Hydrogen
35. Changes in Solar Cavities during Rotation
36. Solar Spot
37. Holding Telescope to see the Sun-spots
38. Orbits and Comparative Sizes of the Planets
39. Orbit of Earth, illustrating Seasons
40. Inclination of Planes of Planetary Orbits
41. Inclination of Orbits of Earth and Venus
42. Showing the Sun's Movement among the Stars
43. Passage of the Sun by Star Regulus
44. Apparent Path of Jupiter among the Stars
45. Illustrating Position of Planets
46. Apparent Movements of an Inferior Planet
47. Apparent Movements of a Superior Planet
47_a_. A Swarm of Meteors meeting the Earth
48. Explosion of a Bolide
49. Flight of Bolides
50. The Santa Rosa Aerolite
51. Orbit of November Meteors and the Comet of 1866
52. Aspects of Remarkable Comets
53. Phases and Apparent Dimensions of Venus
54. The Earth and Moon in Space
55. Aurora as Waving Curtains
56. Tide resulting from Centrifugal Motion
57. Lunar Landscape
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58. Telescopic View of the Moon
59. Illumination of Lunar Craters and Peaks
60. Lunar Crater "Copernicus"
61. Eclipses: Shadows of Earth and Moon
62. Apparent Sizes of Mars, seen from the Earth
63. Jupiter
64. Various Positions of Jupiter's Satellites
65. View of Saturn and his Rings
66. Perturbations of Uranus
67. Map: Circumpolar Constellations
68. Map of Constellations on the Meridian in December
69. Map of Constellations on the Meridian in January
70. Map of Constellations on the Meridian in April
71. Map of Constellations on the Meridian in June
72. Map of Constellations on the Meridian in September
73. Map of Constellations on the Meridian in November
74. Southern Circumpolar Constellations
75. Aspects of Double Stars
76. Sprayed Star Cluster below ae in Hercules
77. Globular Star Cluster in the Centaur
78. Great Nebula about th Orionis
79. The Crab Nebula above z Tauri
80. The Ring Nebula in Lyra
81. Showing Place of Ring Nebula
82. The Horizontal Pendulum
COLORED PLATE REPRESENTING VARIOUS SPECTA
MAPS TO FIND THE STARS
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I.