36 Star Finding. 



STAR FINDING. 



There are few more delightful occupations than paying telesco- 

 pic visits to the hundreds of beautiful objects which the heavens 

 present, and which are accessible to the possessors of very 

 moderate optical means. A beginner need not be discouraged 

 by the difficulty incidental to the nature of the pursuit. Let 

 him commence with such a work as Mrs. Ward's elegant Tele- 

 scope Teachings * and he will find himself insensibly prepared 

 for the consideration of more complicated problems, and the 

 prosecution of investigations of a more elaborate kind. Many 

 interesting stars require instruments of considerable magnitude 

 and power, but Mrs. Ward has shown much that may be accom- 

 plished with a two-inch glass ; and Mr. Webb has furnished a 

 valuable guide to all the principal astronomical wonders that 

 can be reached by objectives up to double that size.f The names 

 of the principal stars in our hemisphere may be learnt from 

 maps, globes, or the excellent planisphere published by Smith 

 in the Strand ; but as the constellations are among the most 

 bungling contrivances of human ingenuity, it is by no means 

 an easy task to trace their imaginary boundaries in the sky, or 

 to know exactly where to point the telescope to the less con- 

 spicuous members of their bewildering groups. In the papers 

 for which our readers are indebted to Mr. Webb, very simple 

 directions are given for finding, at a specified date the objects 

 which he describes, but, inasmuch as the whole celestial 

 framework appears to revolve about our earth, and each month 

 — each hour — presents a different aspect of the firmament to 

 our gaze, it is very desirable to possess accurate and scientific 

 means adapted to any time, by which, if the weather permits, 

 the object we wish to examine may be infallibly found. Such 

 an aid the professional astronomer possesses in the equatorial, 

 and several opticians have produced equatorial stands adapted 

 for portable telescopes of moderate size. They are, however, 

 from their price beyond the reach of many students, and even 

 if they were cheaper and less cumbersome, they would not 

 answer all the purposes that can be served by a small instru- 

 ment readily carried from one room to another, or to any 

 part of a garden or field from which a good view can be 

 obtained, and the adjustment of which can be readily made. 

 Such an instrument has been produced by Messrs. Home 

 and Thornthwaite, and since we first alluded to it in the 



* Telescope Teachings; a Sketch of Astronomical Discovery, containing a 

 Special Notice of Objects coming loithin the Range of a Small Telescope. By the 

 Hon. Mrs. Ward. Groombridge and Sons. 



t Celestial Objects for Common Telescopes. By the Kev. T. C. "Webb, Incum- 

 bent of Hardwick, Herefordshire. Longmans. 



