THE CONSTELLATIONS OF ORION AND TAURUS.
NOTES.—Star α in Taurus is red, has eight metals; moveseast (page 227). At o above tip ofright horn is the Crab Nebula (page 219). InOrion, α is variable, has five metals; recedes 22 miles persecond. β, δ, ε, ξ, ρ, etc., are doublestars, the component parts of various colors and magnitudes (page 212, note). λ and ι are triple;σ, octuple; θ, multiple, surrounded by a fine Nebula(page 218).
Page iiiRECREATIONS IN ASTRONOMY
WITH
DIRECTIONS FOR PRACTICAL EXPERIMENTS AND TELESCOPIC WORK
BY
AUTHOR OF "SIGHTS AND INSIGHTS; OR, KNOWLEDGE BY TRAVEL," ETC.
WITH EIGHTY-THREE ILLUSTRATIONS AND MAPS OF STARS
| Page vΤΗΙ ΨΥΧΗΙ ΤΗΙ ΑΓΑΠΗΤΗΙ ΑΣΤΡΑΠΤΟΥΣΗΙ ΚΑΙ ΙΣΑΓΓΕΔΩΙ |
Page viiPREFACE.
All sciences are making an advance, but Astronomy is moving at thedouble-quick. Since the principles of this science were settledby Copernicus, four hundred years ago, it has never had to beata retreat. It is rewritten not to correct material errors, butto incorporate new discoveries.
Once Astronomy treated mostly of tides, seasons, and telescopicaspects of the planets; now these are only primary matters. Onceit considered stars as mere fixed points of light; now it studiesthem as suns, determines their age, size, color, movements, chemicalconstitution, and the revolution of their planets. Once it consideredspace as empty; now it knows that every cubic inch of it quivers withgreater intensity of force than that which is visible in Niagara.Every inch of surface that can be conceived of between suns is morewave-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 thespectroscope a third—no less important than either of theothers.
While nearly all men are prevented from practical experimentationin these high realms of knowledge, fewPage viiihave so little leisure as to be debarred from intelligently enjoyingthe results of the investigations of others.
This book has been written not only to reveal some of the highestachievements of the human mind, but also to let the heavens declarethe glory of the Divine Mind. In the author's judgment, there is nogulf that separates science and religion, nor any conflict wherethey stand together. And it is fervently hoped that anyone whocomes to a better knowledge of God's works through reading thisbook, 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 Professorof As