THE STELLAR UNIVERSE. 



degrees north of the constellation of Orion, between it and 

 Aldebaran. 



In fig. 20, the same object is delineated as shown by Lord 

 Rosse's telescope. Here a still greater change of appearance is 

 produced than in the former case. The oval form is lost, and 

 converted into that whifch is shown in the figure. The object is 

 studded with innumerable stars, which are projected upon a 

 nebulous ground. This nebulous ground would most evidently 

 be resolved into stars if viewed with still higher powers. 



is. 



81. The nebulae, properly so called, present a much greater 

 variety of form than the stellar clusters. Some are circular, with 

 more or less precision of outline. Some are elliptical, the oval 

 outline having degrees of excentricity infinitely various, from one 

 which scarcely differs from a circle, to one which is compressed 

 into a form not sensibly different from a straight line. In short, 

 the minor axis of the ellipses bears all proportions to the major 

 axis, until it becomes a very small fraction of the latter. 



To infer the real from the apparent forms of these objects with 

 any certainty, there are no sufficient data. But in the cases in 

 24 



