566 THE VISIBLE STARS. 



} prised at their being visible, notwithstanding that they present no sensible dis' 



\ even when magnified by the most powerful telescope. 



It may again be asked how it can be said that the brightness of a star i 

 not diminished by distance, when it is maintained that the splendor of the dog 

 star compared with one of the seventh magnitude, is owing to the greatness o 

 the distance of the latter. To this we reply, according to the proper term 

 brightness the dogstar is not brighter than an equal star of the seventh magni 

 tude. It is a more splendid object as viewed by the eye, because it transmit 

 more light to the eye, but its intrinsic splendor may be the same. The sun a 

 seen from the earth and as seen from the planet Herschel, has the same in 

 tnnsic brightness, but its apparent magnitude at Herschel 200 times less. 



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