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mmv 1 a2? -^J l^O -Si m m I'v?' %'! ftfsrr mri.', m.:6\, BOUGHT WITH THE INCOME OF THE SAGE ENDOWMENT FUND THE GIFT OF $i«ttri3 M. Sage 1S91 ^ASQAS. IiUn^Ilm Radiant suns : 3 1924 031 olin,anx 323 904 The original of tliis book is in tine Cornell University Library. There are no known copyright restrictions in the United States on the use of the text. http://www.archive.org/cletails/cu31924031323904 A l^w oF SrxT.iciri PAssiii tiii;(iugh slit and I'I.ism THKOV, N trOK A SE-MI-TRANSPAKENT SCREEN. RADIANT SUNS A SEQUEL TO 'SUN, MOON AND STARS' BY AGNES GIBERNE ' AUTHOR OF 'SUN, MOON AND STARS,' ' THE WORLD's FOUNDATIONS ETC., ETC. IVM a Preface by MRS HUGGINS and many Illustrations ' In Thy light shall we see light.' —Ps. xxxvi. 9. LONDON SEELEY AND CO. LIMITED Essex Street, Strand 1895 s ; P R E F A C E The ever-widening interest in science, which distinguishes our time, produces naturally a large growth of popular scientific literature. Such literature, when of a high order, cannot fail to do educational work, as well as to in- terest its readers ; it may even fulfil a noble mission in bringing home to the masses of men not simply new scientific facts, but the truth, so constantly overlooked, that the investigator, absorbed in pursuits far removed from those of ordinary life, is also a toiling worker, and a worker of the highest order. Astronomy, the most ancient of the sciences, appeals to the imagination no less than to the intellect. Early men, no doubt, felt this and intelligent children, who in many ways iv Preface stand in something of the position of early men, usually feel it too. It is a great pleasure to me to have the opportunity of saying that I think the following work will delight intelligent young readers, as well as older ones, and at the same time give real teaching. Miss Giberne is already well known as a successful popular writer on scientific subjects. The present work is designed as a sequel to her Stm, Moon and Stars, —an admirable astronomical book for beginners, —and treats in a similarly clear and happy manner of the more modern sides and facts of Astronomy. Indeed, the children and general readers of to-day, who long to know something of the hosts of heaven, owe much to Miss Giberne ; for her Starry Skies is so written as to satisfy as well as to stimulate their first curiosity ; and, later, they will find her Stm, Moon and Stars and the present work also fascinating and full of information. It may ' Preface v well be that some Newton or Herschel of the future may in old age point to these books, and say, ' These first awoke my longing to be an astronomer ! It seems to me that it is not simply in describing well the facts of Astronomy that this little book and its predecessor are valuable. Imagination, which plays so large a part in science, is appealed to constantly and wisely by the Author, and in a way that cannot fail to give mental training to her readers. In- deed, there are few pages in the present work in which, beyond the scientific information directly given, there is not also indirectly enforced some lesson of high practical value. Among others, that the ultimate goal of all true science is Truth, and that It must be faithfully and fearlessly pursued, without haste and without rest ; also, that suspended judg- ment, so often necessary, is indeed the only true scientific attitude of the mind towards vi Preface those questions about which our information is very incomplete, and that such a state of mind is quite consistent with a cheerful faith that looks forward to future possibilities of the increase of our knowledge. Not of little importance is the further lesson con- veyed, that it is alone, by delicate discrimina- tion, extreme and even wearisome accuracy, and untiring patience, that in most cases any increase of our knowledge of Nature can be won. And, finally, it may be seen that all the sciences are closely correlated, and that all sincere followers after Truth form essentially a Brotherhood. This is great teaching. And while it is so given as to be attractive to youth,—and what is taught to the youth of a nation mainly makes a nation, —older readers will, I think, find pleasure and profit in the perusal of this volume, as they did in the one which preceded it. Preface vii In matters of opinion I am, of course, not responsible for the Author's views ; but I have no hesitation in bearing witness to the general excellence of her work, and in wishing it success. MARGARET L. HUGGINS. Upper Tulse Hill, S.W., June 1894. AUTHOR'S PREFACE In this sequel to my former work on the same subject, which has received so wide and kind a welcome, I have endeavoured to avoid, as far as possible, treading in the same grooves. Radiant Sims is entirely supplementary to Sun, Moon and Siai^s, entering more closely into subjects which could there be merely glanced at, and explain- ing difficulties which could not there be entered upon, besides giving a large amount of completely fresh information. The book falls into three divisions. First, a sketch of the History of Astronomy leads upward from earliest ages to the wonderful — X Preface later developments of the science, which are chiefly ranked under the head of Spectrum Analysis. Secondly, Spectrum Analysis itself —what it means, and what it teaches is carefully gone into. Thirdly, the Stellar Universe, as now known, is considered ; and some great theories, which may in the future gradually take their place as proved truths are also presented to the reader. In the historical portion my aim has been to give short outlines of the lives of only the greater men of the past, —stars, for the most part, of the first magnitude. If a few of the second magnitude have crept in, this has been for the sake of necessary reference to their particular labours. Spectrum Analysis is no easy subject to popularise. I can but plead to have done my best. At least some general idea of its meaning and of its scope may, I trust, be gathered by the untrained reader from the following pages. Preface xi The kind words of Mrs Huggins really leave little more for me to say, beyond an expression of my very warm gratitude to her, for the trouble which she has so unspar- ingly bestowed in looking through the sheets of this volume, suggesting improvements, and giving to my readers, as well as to myself, the benefit of her long experience in the practical working of Spectroscopic Astronomy. AGNES GIBERNE. WoRTON House, Eastbourne, July 1894. CONTENTS PART I ASTRONOMY OLD AND NEW CHAP. PAGE I. —THE DAWN OF ASTRONOMY, . 3 II. —THE GREAT MISTAKE, . 12 III. —FROM THE SECOND TO THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY, 24 IV. —THE WORK OF KEPLER, . 37 V.—THE STORY OF GALILEO, 45 VI.—SIR ISAAC NEWTON, . 52 VII. —SOME DISCOVERIES OF NEWTON, 61 VIII. —THE PROBLEM OF SUN-DISTANCE, 71 IX. —THE PROBLEM OF STAR-DISTANCE, . 82 X. —ABERRATION OF LIGHT, . 89 XI. —THE DAWN OF STELLAR ASTRONOMY, . 97 XII.—MEASUREMENT OF STAR-DISTANCES, . I06 PART I I THE SPECTROSCOPE AND ITS TEACHING XIII. —STARLIGHT, . II7 XIV.—THE NATURE OF LIGHT, . 124 XV. —THE NATURE OF SIGHT, . I31 xlv Contents CHAr. PAGE XVI. —THE MAKE OF A SUNBEAM, . I42 XVII.—THE KEYBOARD OF LIGHT, 152 XVIII. —MYSTERIOUS DARK LIKES, 162 XIX. —TWO YELLOW LINES, 171 XX. —THE SPECTROSCOPE, . -179 XXI. —A PERPLEXITY SOLVED, 18$ XXII.—VARIETIES OF SUNS, . 198 XXIII. —PHOTOGRAPHY OF STARS, . 206 XXIV. —STAR JOURNEYINGS, . 2l6 XXV. —FURTHER MARVELS, . 226 XX^'I.— PROOFS OF MODERN ASTRONOMY, . 238 XXVII. —ADDITIONAL PROOFS, . 246 PART III THE STELLAR UNIVERSE XXVIII. —HOW MANY STARS? . 259 XXIX. —ABOUT THE NEBUI./E, . 266 XXX. —MANY UNIVERSES, . ... 274 XXXI. —THE GARDEN OF THE SKIES, . 282 XXXII. —GROWTH IN THAT GARDEN, . 294 XXXIII. —THE SHRINKING OF OUR SUN, . 30I XXXIV. KINGDOMS AND — REPUBLICS IN THE SKY, . 311 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS A RAY OF SUNLIGHT PASSED THROUGH A PRISM, . frontispiece I'AGE COPERNICUS, . 30 TYCHO BRAHE, 34 THE SYSTEM OF TYCHO BRAHE, 40 GALILEO, .... 46 SIR ISAAC NEWTON, 52 SIR WILLIAM HERSCHEL, . gS THE GREAT TELESCOPE OF THE LICK OBSERVATORY, I44 RAINBOW OVER THE LAKE OF BRIENZ, 1 56 SPECTRA OF SUN AND FOUR ELEMENTS, . 176 DR HUGGINS, ... 181 SPECTRA OF STARS AND NEBULA, 202 SPECTRA OF TWO STARS, . 20S THE LICK OBSERVATORY, . 228 PHOTOGRAPH OF A PART OF THE SKY, 264 THE NEBULA IN ANDROMEDA, . 298 PART I ASTRONOMY OLD AND NEW RADIANT SUNS CHAPTER I THE IJAWN OF ASTRONOMY The beginnings of Astronomy lie in the distance of earliest historical ages. It is no easy matter to say- when first, in all probability, this science grew into existence. There are other ancient branches of learning ; but few, if any, so ancient as the study of the Stars. Geology beside Astronomy is as a babe in the cradle beside an old and grey-headed man ; and of nine- tenths at least of the 'ologies the same may be said. Indeed, in point of age, no other science can take precedence of Astronomy. No doubt, men thought of themselves, and of the world on which they lived, before they thought of the stars ; but they did not think of themselves or of the earth scientifically. i 4 Radiant Suns The first faint approach to an)thing of the scientific mode of thought was, there can be httle question, in respect of the stars.

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