206 IN STARRY REALMS. 



portions are large enough to form dark spots. The 

 photographic examination of the sun certainly bears out 

 the view that the luminous surface is far from being 

 continuous, even setting aside the presence of large spots. 

 I must, however, say, that in none of the photographs 

 that I have seen are the cloudlets at all of the willow-leaf 

 or the rice-grain structure : they do not seem characte- 

 rized by any specially elongated shape, except round the 

 sun spots. 



Photography has also been applied with success to the 

 representation of the phenomena seen during the occur- 

 rence of a total eclipse of the sun. The total eclipses of 

 recent years have been most assiduously observed by 

 parties of astronomers who have visited whatever parts 

 'of the globe offered exceptional opportunities for the 

 purpose. Special attention has been directed to the 

 corona, and large photographic apparatus has been con- 

 structed with the object of obtaining coronal pictures. 

 The result has been to produce most beautiful pictures. 



Numerous photographs of the moon in very various 

 phases have been taken. Among the earliest of them 

 may be mentioned that of E/utherford, on March 6th, 

 1865, which is excellent, though of course now surpassed. 

 Admirable pictures of the moon have been obtained at 

 the Lick Observatory, in California, one of which is 

 represented in the frontispiece. 



Though the lunar photographs are interesting, and 

 make beautiful transparencies to show on the screen, yet 

 it will, I think, be admitted that, so far as the represen- 

 tation of lunar details is concerned, they are disappointing. 

 Even the best of them will not bear much magnifying 



