GREAT NEBULA OF ORION. 



resembling the Lead and yawning jaws of some monstrous animal, 

 with a sort of proboscis running out from the snout. The stars 

 scattered over it probably have no connection with it, and are 

 doubtless placed much nearer to our system than the nebula, being 

 visually projected upon it. Parts of this nebula, when submitted 

 to the powers of Lord Rosse's telescope, show evident indications 

 of resolvability. 



92. An object of the same class is shown in fig. 62, p. 177, 

 Vol. vii., and presenting like appearances ; it is diffused around 

 the star 77 in the constellation Argo, and formed a special subject 

 of observation by Sir J. Herschel, during his residence at the 

 Cape. An engraving of it on a large scale, giving all its details, 

 maybe seen in the " Cape Observations." The position of the 

 centre of the nebula is, HA 10 38' 38", NP D 148 47'. 



This object consists of diffused irregular nebulous patches, 

 extending over a surface measuring nearly 7 m in right ascen- 

 sion, and 68' in declination ; the entire area, therefore, being 

 equal to a square space, whose side would measure one degree. It 

 occupies, therefore, a space on the heavens about five times greater 

 than the disk of the moon, 



The part of the nebula immediately surrounding the central 

 star, is represented in fig. 62. The space here represented measures 

 about one-fourth of the entire extent of the nebula, in declination, 

 and one-third in right ascension, and about a twelfth of its entire 

 magnitude. 



No part of this remarkable object has shown the least ten- 

 dency to resolvability. It is entirely compressed within the 

 limits of that part of the milky way which traverses the southern 

 firmament, the stars of which are seen projected upon it in 

 thousands. Sir J. Herschel has actually counted 1200 of these 

 stars projected upon a part of this nebula, measuring no more 

 than 28' in declination, and 32' in right ascension, and he thinks 

 that it is impossible to avoid the conclusion, that in looking at 

 it we see through and beyond the milky way, far out into 

 space through a starless region, disconnecting it altogether with 

 our system. 



93. The Magellanic clouds are two extensive nebulous patches 

 also seen on the southern firmament, the greater called the nubecula 

 major, being included between R A 4 h 40 m , and 6 h O m and N p D 156 

 and 162, occupying a superficial area of 42 square degrees ; and the 

 other called the nubecula minor, being included between B, A O h 2l ra 

 and l h 15 m and between NDP 162 and 165, covering about 10 

 square degrees. 



These nebulae consist of patches of every character, some irre- 

 solvable, and others resolvable in all degrees, and mixed with 



47 



