THE NEBULA OF ORION. 



259 



Le Gentil, which was drawn in 1758, and which may be found in 

 " Histoire de PAcademie," 1759. This is Fig. 2. 



The fourth star was, however, seen by Domenique Cassini before 

 Le Gentil's drawing was made. 



Not a little is to be learned from these figures, which we must try 

 to keep in mind, as the region to which they refer is the central and 

 most interesting portion of the great nebula. We can see, first, that 



Nebula Orionis. (Huyghens, 165G.) 



there is an entire absence of shading in the portion of the nebula 

 drawn ; the outline of nebulous matter is simply filled in by shading 

 of a uniform tint. It is much to be regretted that it is impossible to 

 print here the exquisite engraving of this nebula, made from draw- 

 ings by Prof. G. P. Bond, director of Harvard College Observatory, 

 in 1865. In this drawing one hardly knows which to admire most, 

 the accuracy and painstaking skill of the astronomer, or the exquisite 

 tact of the engraver. There are very few nights so fine, and there 

 are very few instruments so perfect, as to give a view of this nebula as 

 good and as detailed as may be had from this engraving alone. 



But we must be content with referring to the plate (" Annals of 

 Harvard College Observatory," vol. v.) for the details of the nebu- 

 lous portions of this region, and we must content ourselves with re- 

 producing only the stars of the surrounding space. It is true that es- 

 pecial attention has been paid by some astronomers to the smaller stars 

 in this nebula ; while some, as Herschel the younger, have evidently 

 bestowed more care upon the grades of light in the nebula itself; but. 



