CHAPTER XIV. VIA LACTEA. "Throughout the Galaxy's extended line, With the strong influence of a radiant sun."-Mrs. Carter THERE is a luminous zone or pathway of singular whiteness, varying from 4° to 20° in width, which passes quite round the heavens. The Greeks called it GALAXY, on account of its colour and appearance: the Latins, for the same reason, called it VIA LACTEA, which, in our tongue, is Milky Way. Of all the constellations which the heavens exhibit to our view, this fills the mind with the most indescribable grandeur and amazement. When we consider what unnumbered millions of mighty suns compose this cluster, whose distance is so vast that the strongest telescope can hardly separate their mingled twilight into distinct specks, and that the most contiguous of any two of them may be as far asunder as our sun is from them, we fall as far short of adequate language to express our ideas of such immensity, as we do of instru ments to measure its boundaries. It is one of the recent achievements of astronomy that has resolved the Milky-Way into an infinite number of small stars, whose confused and feeble lustre occasions that peculiar whiteness which we see in a clear evening, when the moon is absent. It is also a recent and well accredited doctrine of astronomy, that all the stars in the universe are arranged into clusters, or groups, which are called NEBULE OF STARRY SYSTEMS, each of which consists of many thousands of stars. The fixed star which we call oUR SUN, belongs, it is said, to that extensive nebula, the Milky-Way; and although apparently at such an immeasurable distance from its fellow's, is, doubtless, as near to any one of them, as they are to one another. Of the number and economy of the stars which compose this group, we have very little exact knowledge. Dr. Herschel informs us that, with his best glasses, he saw and What do you understand by the Milky-Way? By what different names is it called Why does the contemplation of this constellation fill the mind with ideas of grandeur and amazement? What causes the whiteness of the Milky Way? Into what are all the stars in the universe arranged? To what nebula does the sun belong, and what is probably its distance from its fellows? What knowledge have we of the number BI economy of the stars in this group? counted 588 stars in a single spot, without moving his telescope; and as the gradual motion of the earth carried these out of view and introduced others successively in their places, while he kept his telescope steadily fixed to one point, "there passed over his field of vision, in the space of one quarter of an hour, no less than one hundred and sixteen thousand stars, and at another time in forty-one minutes, no less than two hundred and fifty-eight thousand." In all parts of the Milky-Way he found the stars unequally dispersed, and appearing to arrange themselves into separate clusters. In the small space, for example, between Beta and Sad'r, in Cygni, the stars seem to be clustering in two divisions; each division containing upwards of one hundred and sixty-five thousand stars. At other observations, when examining a section of the Milky-Way, not apparently more than a yard in breadth, and six in length, he discovered fifty thousand stars, large enough to be distinctly counted; and he suspected twice as many more, which, for want of sufficient light in his telescope, he saw only now and then. It appears from numerous observations, that various changes are taking place among the nebula-that several nebulæ are formed by the dissolution of larger ones, and that many nebulæ of this kind are at present detaching themselves from the Milky Way. In that part of it which is in the body of Scorpio, there is a large opening, about 4° broad, almost destitute of stars. These changes seem to indicate that mighty movements and vast operations are continually going on in the distant regions of the universe, upon a scale of magnitude and grandeur which baffles the human understanding. More than two thousand five hundred nebulæ have already been observed; and, if each of them contains as many stars as the Milky-Way, several hundreds of millions of stars must exist, even within that portion of the heavens which lies open to our observation. "O what a confluence of ethereal fires, From urns unnumber'd down the steep of heaven Although the Milky-Way is more or less visible at all seasons of the year, yet it is seen to the best advantage during the months of July, August, September, and October. When Lyra is on, or near the meridian, it may be seen How many did Dr. Herschel count in a single spot during the space of 15 minutes? How did he find the stars dispersed, throughout the Milky-Way? Give an example. Give another instance. What changes are taking place in the Milky Way and other nebula? What do these changes indicate? How many nebulæ have been discovered? If each of these rebulæ contains as many stars as the Milky Way, how many stars must exist even in that portion of the heavens which lies open to our observation? Where and at what period may the Milky Way be seen to the best advantage? stretching obliquely over the heavens from northeast to soutnwest, gradually moving over the firmament in common with other constellations. Its form, breadth and appearance are various, in different parts of its course. In some places it is dense and luminous; in others, it is scattered and faint. Its breadth is often not more than five degrees; though sometimes it is ten or fifteen degrees, and even twenty. In some places it assumes a double path, but for the most part it is single. It may be traced in the heavens, beginning near the head of Cepheus, about 30° from the north pole, through the constellations Cassiopeia, Perseus, Auriga, and part of Orion and the feet of Gemini, where it crosses the Zodiac; thence over the equinoctial into the southern hemisphere, through Monoceros, and the middle of the ship Argo, where it is most luminous, Charles's Oak, the Cross, the feet of the Centaur, and the Altar. Here it is divided into two branches, as it passes over the Zodiac again into the northern hemisphere. One branch runs through the tail of Scorpio, the bow of Sagittarius, the shield of Sobieski, the feet of Antinous, Aquila, Delphinus, the Arrow, and the Swan. The other branch passes through the upper part of the tail of Scorpio, the side of Serpentarius, Taurus Poniatowski, the Goose and the neck of the Swan, where it again unites with the other branch, and passes on to the head of Cepheus, the place of its beginning. There are several other nebulæ in the heavens as large as the Milky-Way, but not visible to the naked eye, which may exhibit the phenomenon of a lucid zone to the planetary worlds that may be placed within them. Some of the pagan philosophers maintained that the Milky Way was formerly the sun's path, and that its present luminous appearance is the track which its scattered beams left visible in the heavens. The ancient poets and even philosophers, speak of the Galaxy, or Milky-Way, as the path which their deities used in the heavens, and which led directly to the throne of Jupiter. Thus, Ovid, in his Metamorphoses, Book i.:— X "A way there is in heaven's extended plain, Milton alludes to this, in the following lines: "A broad and ample road, whose dust is gold, Which nightly, as a circling zone, thou seest CHAPTER XV. ORIGIN OF THE CONSTELLATIONS. THE Science of astronomy was cultivated by the imme diate descendants of Adam. JOSEPHUS informs us that the Describe the breadth and appearance of the M xy-Way. How may it be traced in he heavens? Are there other nebulæ in the heaves as large as the Milky-Way? How early was the science of astronomy cultivated? What authority have we for affixing su prly a date to the science? sons of SETH employed themselves in the study of astronomy, and that they wrote their observations upon two pillars, one of brick, and the other of stone,* in order to preserve them against the destruction which ADAM had foretold should come upon the earth. He also relates, that Abraham argued the unity and power of God, from the orderly course of things both at sea and land, in their times and seasons, and from his observations upon the motions and influences of the sun, moon, and stars; and that he read lectures in astronomy and arithmetic to the Egyptians, of which they understood nothing till Abraham brought these sciences from Chaldea to Egypt; from whence they passed to the Greeks. BEROSUS also observes that Abraham was a great and just man, and famous for his celestial observations; the making of which was thought to be so necessary to the human welfare, that he assigns it as the principal reason of the Almighty's prolonging the life of man. This ancient historian tells us, in his account of the longevity of the antediluvians, that Providence found it necessary to prolong man's days, in order to promote the study and advancement of virtue, and the improvement of geometry and astronomy, which required, at least, six hundred years for making and perfecting observations.† When Alexander took Babylon, Calisthenes found that the most ancient observations existing on record in that city, were made by the Chaldeans about 1903 years before that period, which carries us back to the time of the dispersion of mankind by the confusion of tongues. It was 1500 years after this that the Babylonians sent to Hezekiah, to inquire about the shadow's going back on the dial of Ahaz. It is therefore very probable that the Chaldeans and Egypans were the original inventors of astronomy; but at what period of the world they marked out the heavens into constelations, remains in uncertainty. La Place fixes the date thirteen or fourteen hundred years before the Christian era, since it was about this period, that Eudoxus constructed the first celestial sphere upon which the constellations were de *Josephus affirms, that "he saw himself that of stone to remain in Syria in his own time." + Vince's Complete System of Astronomy, Vol. ii. p. 244. What does Josephus relate concerning Abraham's knowledge of astronomy? Who, does he say, first introduced this science into Egypt? What other historian of remote antiquity speaks of Abraham's attention to this science? What reason does Berosus assign for the longevity of the antediluvians? When Alexander took Babylon, what ancient observations did he find in that city? To what period of the world do these observations carry us back? How long after this was it that the Babylonians sent to Hezekiah, to inquire about the shadow's going back on the dial of Ahaz? Who, then, may we conclude, were the original inventors of astronomy, and at what period dia they arrange the fixed stars into constellations? When does La Place fix the date? lineated.* Sir Isaac Newton was of opinion, that all the old constellations related to the Argonautic expedition, and that they were invented to commemorate the heroes and events of that memorable enterprise. It should be remarked, however, that while none of the ancient constellations refer to transactions of a later date, yet we have various accounts of them, of a much higher antiquity than that event. Some of the most learned antiquarians of Europe have searched every page of heathen mythology, and ransacked all the legends of poetry and fable for the purpose of rescuing this subject from that impermeable mist which rests upon it, and they have only been able to assure us, in general terms, that they are Chaldean or Egyptian hieroglyphics, intended to perpetuate by means of an imperishable record, the memory of the times in which their inventors lived, their religion and manners, their achievements in the arts, and whatever in their history, was most worthy of being commemorated. There was at least, a moral grandeur in this idea; for an event thus registered, a custom thus canonized, or thus enrolled among the stars, must needs survive all other traditions of men, and stand forth in perpetual characters to the end of time. In arranging the constellations of the Zodiac, for instance, it would be natural for them, we may imagine, to represent those stars which rose with the sun in the spring of the year, by such animals as the shepherds held in the greatest esteem at that season; accordingly, we find Aries, Taurus, and Gemini, as the symbols of March, April, and May. *The usual size of artificial globes, designed to represent the celestial sphere, is from 9 to 18 inches in diameter. Globes have been recently constructed in Germany, which are said to be more splendid and complete than any in the world. The largest ever made are that of Gottorp, two in the library of the late king of France, and one in Pembroke college, Cambridge. The globe of Gottorp, now in the Academy of Sciences at Petersburg, is a large hollow sphere, eleven and a half feet in diameter, containing a table and seats for twelve persons. The inside represents the visible surface of the heavens, bespangled with gilded stars, ranged in their proper order and magnitude, and by means of a curious piece of mechanism by which it is put in motion, exhibits the true position of the stars, at any time, together with their rising and setting. The convex surface, or outside of this globe, represents the terrestrial sphere. In 1704, two globes of equal dimensions, it is said, were made for Cardinal d'Estrees, by Cornelli, a Venitian, and deposited in the king's library at Paris. These, however, are far inferior in size to one of similar construction, erected at Pembroke college, in the University of Cambridge, by the late Dr. Long, president of that institution. This is a hollow sphere, sufficiently capacious to admit thirty persons to sit within it, where they can observe the artificial world of stars and planets, revolving over their heads, in the same order as they are seen in the heavens. This sphere is eighteen feet in diameter. What opinion has Sir Isaac Newton advanced upon this subject? Have we however, any accounts of the constellations, of a higher antiquity than that event? Do any of the ancient constellations refer to transactions of a later date? What have the most learned antiquarians of Europe done upon this subject, and of what do they assure us? How long would the memory of an action, or event, thus registered, be likely to endure? In arranging the constellations of the Zodiac, how was it natural to represent the stars? |