The Astronomical Outlook 



others lose themselves in morasses or glaciers; 

 but some will lead the fortunate traveller to 

 clearer light and air, and to gardens of rich fruit ; 

 for the heights of science are not, like earthly 

 mountain-tops, barren and icy, but clothed with 

 verdure and bathed in the light of heaven, where 

 one breathes untainted air and enjoys most 

 glorious prospects. But always before him rise 

 summits more lofty, more inaccessible and more 

 mysterious yet; for the highest attainment is, 

 after all, only progress towards the unattainable 

 infinite, and that which lies before bears always 

 an increasing ratio to that which has been left 

 behind. 



Perhaps the first question which offers itself 

 is, What advances are likely to be made in the 

 methods and instruments of astronomical inves- 

 tigation ? Can we hope soon to acquire new 

 instruments of research relatively as powerful 

 as those which the past has given us instru- 

 ments which, like the telescope and spectro- 

 scope, will open new and unknown regions hither- 

 to hopelessly inaccessible? It is hardly safe to 

 prophesy, but one is certainly warranted in say- 

 ing, Why not ? The discovery of new forms of 

 radiant energy, like the Rontgen and Lenard 

 rays, makes it conceivable that very possibly 

 similar radiations may come to us from the 

 heavenly bodies, and that before very long we 

 may be in possession of apparatus which will 

 enable us to detect those rays and to read the re- 

 cords they are sure to bring if they really reach us. 

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