The Story of the Heavens   By: Robert S. Ball (1840-1913)

The punctuation and spelling from the original text have been faithfully preserved. Only obvious typographical errors have been corrected.

THE STORY OF THE HEAVENS

[Illustration: PLATE I.

THE PLANET SATURN, IN 1872.]

THE

STORY OF THE HEAVENS

SIR ROBERT STAWELL BALL, LL.D. D.Sc.

Author of " Star Land "

FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, HONORARY FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH, FELLOW OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, SCIENTIFIC ADVISER TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF IRISH LIGHTS, LOWNDEAN PROFESSOR OF ASTRONOMY AND GEOMETRY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, AND FORMERLY ROYAL ASTRONOMER OF IRELAND

WITH TWENTY FOUR COLOURED PLATES AND NUMEROUS ILLUSTRATIONS

NEW AND REVISED EDITION

CASSELL AND COMPANY, LIMITED LONDON, PARIS, NEW YORK & MELBOURNE 1900

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

[Illustration: LA·BELLE SAUVAGE]

PREFACE TO ORIGINAL EDITION.

I have to acknowledge the kind aid which I have received in the preparation of this book.

Mr. Nasmyth has permitted me to use some of the beautiful drawings of the Moon, which have appeared in the well known work published by him in conjunction with Mr. Carpenter. To this source I am indebted for Plates VII., VIII., IX., X., and Figs. 28, 29, 30.

Professor Pickering has allowed me to copy some of the drawings made at Harvard College Observatory by Mr. Trouvelot, and I have availed myself of his kindness for Plates I., IV., XII., XV.

I am indebted to Professor Langley for Plate II., to Mr. De la Rue for Plates III. and XIV., to Mr. T.E. Key for Plate XVII., to Professor Schiaparelli for Plate XVIII., to the late Professor C. Piazzi Smyth for Fig. 100, to Mr. Chambers for Fig. 7, which has been borrowed from his "Handbook of Descriptive Astronomy," to Dr. Stoney for Fig. 78, and to Dr. Copeland and Dr. Dreyer for Fig. 72. I have to acknowledge the valuable assistance derived from Professor Newcomb's "Popular Astronomy," and Professor Young's "Sun." In revising the volume I have had the kind aid of the Rev. Maxwell Close.

I have also to thank Dr. Copeland and Mr. Steele for their kindness in reading through the entire proofs; while I have also occasionally availed myself of the help of Mr. Cathcart.

ROBERT S. BALL.

OBSERVATORY, DUNSINK, CO. DUBLIN. 12th May, 1886.

NOTE TO THIS EDITION.

I have taken the opportunity in the present edition to revise the work in accordance with the recent progress of astronomy. I am indebted to the Royal Astronomical Society for the permission to reproduce some photographs from their published series, and to Mr. Henry F. Griffiths, for beautiful drawings of Jupiter, from which Plate XI. was prepared.

ROBERT S. BALL.

CAMBRIDGE, 1st May, 1900 .

CONTENTS.

PAGE

INTRODUCTION 1

CHAPTER

I. THE ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY 9

II. THE SUN 29

III. THE MOON 70

IV. THE SOLAR SYSTEM 107

V. THE LAW OF GRAVITATION 122

VI. THE PLANET OF ROMANCE 150

VII. MERCURY 155

VIII. VENUS 167

IX. THE EARTH 192

X. MARS 208

XI. THE MINOR PLANETS 229

XII. JUPITER 245

XIII. SATURN 268

XIV. URANUS 298

XV. NEPTUNE 315