STAR-GROUPING, STAR-DRIFT, AND STAR-MIST. 149 



has really done has been but to analyze a definite aggrega- 

 tion of stars, a mere corner of that great system. Yet once 

 more, according to accepted views, thousands and thousands 

 of galaxies, external to the sidereal system, can be seen 

 with powerful telescopes. If I am right, the external star- 

 systems lie far beyond the reach of the most powerful 

 telescope man has yet been able to construct, insomuch 

 that perchance the nearest of the outlying galaxies may lie 

 a million times beyond the range even of the mighty mirror 

 of the great Rosse telescope. 



But this is little. Wonderful as is the extent of the 

 sidereal system as thus viewed, even more wonderful is its 

 infinite variety. We know how largely modern discoveries 

 have increased our estimate of the complexity of the plane- 

 tary system. Where the ancients recognized but a few 

 planets, we now see, besides the planets, the families of 

 satellites; we see the rings of Saturn, in which minute 

 satellites must be as the sands on the sea-shore for multi- 

 tude ; the wonderful zone of asteroids ; myriads on myriads 

 of comets ; millions on millions of meteor-systems, gathering 

 more and more richly around the sun, until in his neighbour- 

 hood they form the crown of glory which bursts into view 

 when he is totally eclipsed. But wonderful as is the variety 

 seen within the planetary system, the variety within the 

 sidereal system is infinitely more amazing. Besides the 

 single suns, there are groups and systems and streams of 

 primary suns ; there are whole galaxies of minor orbs ; 

 there are clustering stellar aggregations, showing every 

 variety of richness, of figure, and of distribution ; there are 

 all the various forms of nebulae, resolvable and irresolvable, 

 circular, elliptical, and spiral ; and lastly, there are irregula- 

 masses of luminous gas, clinging in fantastic convolutions 

 around stars and star-systems. Nor is it unsafe to assert 

 that other forms and variety of structure will yet be dis- 

 covered, or that hundreds more exist which we may never 

 hope to recognize. 



But lastly, even more wonderful than the infinite variety 



