94 LIGHT SCIENCE FOR LEISURE HOURS. 



systems ; but I may safely allege that there is now 

 not a particle of evidence that the nebula lies beyond 

 our galaxy. 



Nor need we doubt the accuracy of Lord Eosse's 

 observations. More than a year before his death, 

 indeed, he mentioned to Dr. Huggins ' that the matter 

 of the great nebula in Orion had not been resolved by 

 his telescope. In some parts of the nebula he observed 

 a large number of exceedingly minute red stars. These 

 red stars, however, though apparently connected with 

 the irresolvable blue material of the nebula, yet seemed 

 to be distinct from it.' 



The whole subject seems to be as perplexing as any 

 that has ever been submitted to astronomers. Time, 

 however, will doubtless unravel the thread of the 

 mystery. We may safely leave the inquiry in the hands 

 of the able observers and physicists whose attention has 

 been for a long time directed towards it. And we need 

 only note, in conclusion, that in the southern hemi- 

 sphere there exists an object equally mysterious the 

 great nebula round 77 Argus which has yielded similar 

 results when tested with the spectroscope. The examina- 

 tion of this mysterious nebula, associated with the most 

 remarkable variable in the heavens a star which at one 

 time shines but as a fifth magnitude star, and at another 

 exceeds even the brilliant Canopus in splendour may, 

 for aught that is known, throw a new light on the con- 

 stitution of the great Orion nebula. 



From Eraser's Magazine for February 1869. 



