RESOLUTION OF REMARKABLE NEBULA. 201 



light at the center into an almost star-like nucleus ; and 

 the vast number of stars of every gradation of brilliancy 

 scattered over its surface, which yet had the undefinable, 

 but still convincing aspect of not being its components. 

 It is estimated that above fifteen hundred stars are visible 

 with the full aperture of the object-glass within the limits 

 of the nebula. "With high powers, minute stars are dis- 

 covered on the borders of the nucleus, but it has thus 

 far yielded no evidence of resolution. Minute descrip- 

 tions, accompanied with accurate drawings of both these 

 nebulae, have been recently given by the Messrs. Bond in 

 the Memoirs of the American Academy, Yol. HL 



On the whole, it appears that the increase in the power 

 of our telescopes has added to the number of the clusters 

 at the expense of the nebulae properly so called ; still, as 

 Lord Kosse has remarked, it would be very unsafe to 

 conclude that such will always be the case, and thence to 

 infer that all nebulosity is but the glare of stars too re- 

 mote to be separated by the utmost power of our instru- 

 ments. While Lord Eosse's telescope has shown certain 

 nebulae to contain an immense number of stars, it has 

 also revealed to us new nebulous appendages of extreme 

 faintness, which we must regard either as not composed 

 of stars, or as composed of stars of very small absolute 

 dimensions. 



9* 



