88 LIGHT SCIENCE FOR LEISURE HOURS. 



that which he had applied to the northern heavens. 

 In the clear skies of the southern hemisphere the nebula 

 shines with a splendour far surpassing that which it has 

 in northern climes. It is also seen far higher above the 

 horizon. Thus the drawing which Sir J. Herschel was 

 able to execute during his three years' residence at the 

 Cape is among the best views of the great nebula that 

 have ever been taken. But even under these favourable 

 circumstances. Sir John records ' that the nebula, 

 through his great reflector, showed not a symptom of 

 resolution.' 



Then Lassell turned his powerful mirror, two feet in 

 diameter, upon the unintelligible nebula. But though 

 he was able to execute a remarkable drawing of the 

 object, he could discern no trace of stellar constitution. 



In 1845 Lord Eosse interrogated the great nebula 

 with his three-feet mirror. Marvellous was the com- 

 plexity and splendour of the object revealed to him, but 

 not the trace of a star could be seen. 



The end was not yet, however. Encouraged by the 

 success of the three-feet telescope, Lord Rosse com- 

 menced the construction of one four times as powerful. 

 After long and persistent labours, and at a cost, it is 

 said, of thirty thousand pounds, the great Parsonstown 

 reflector, with its wonderful six-feet speculum, was 

 directed to the survey of the heavens. At Christmas, 

 1845, while the instrument was yet incomplete, and in 

 unfavourable weather, the giant tube was turned 

 towards the Orion nebula. Professor Nichol was the 

 first who saw the mysterious object as pictured by the 



