348 Clusters and Nebulae. 



was a :uatlier dull hazy circular mass, clearly resolvable with 

 higher powers, and elongated 1ST. and S., but not bearing mag- 

 nifying like 57 M. It lies in a beautiful field, all sprinkled 

 with, minute stars, a small star lying closely p. It is No. 4485 

 of H/s General Catalogue. 



In a very different quarter of the sky beautiful objects are 

 awaiting us, which we had better secure before they reach an 

 uncomfortable elevation. The order of the Greek letters in 

 Ursa Major being that of the principal stars, we draw a diagonal 

 line through the quadrilateral from <y, the 3rd star, to a, the 

 most northerly of the Pointers, and carry it on as far again, 

 till its end falls in a barren-looking space. Here we must 

 sweep about with our finder, in default of a serviceable guide, 

 till we come across two little feeble white clouds in the same 

 field ; or, if our aperture is small, one only may be readily 

 distinguishable. These will be the Two Nebulas in the Ear of 

 Ursa Major, 8 1 and 82 M. We begin with the brighter, which 

 is also the more southerly, the two lying nearly in the same 

 meridian, about half a degree apart, so as both to come into 

 a very low-power field. 



26. 81 M. (Urso3 Majoris.) This is a beautiful bright 

 nebula, of a lengthened oval form, much condensed towards 

 the centre, where its light assumes a more circular arrange- 

 ment, and is very intense, its general aspect bearing some 

 resemblance to the great nebula in Andromeda in miniature. 

 It was discovered by Messier in 1781. Sir J. Herschel, in 

 whose catalogue of 1838 it is by mistake printed M. 82 

 (No. G49), speaks of it as " gradually brighter, and then sud- 

 denly very much brighter in the middle," the most condensed 

 part being 4' x 3'; but its faint rays extending nearly 15'. 

 The position of the axis he gives = 156°. Two small stars 

 will be seen projected upon the nebulosity : a little s p lies a 

 considerable star, which close examination will prove to be 

 double ; a more obvious, though smaller pair lies between it 

 and the nebula ; and the configuration and contrast of the 

 whole group is singularly beautiful. 



27. 82 M. is a long narrow beam, a little curved, and 

 thinner at each end. It is very bright for a nebula, though 

 inferior to its more conspicuous neighbour. Smyth thought 

 it especially luminous on the N. side ; but this I was unable to 

 confirm, and even had a contrary suspicion ; the / portion also 

 seemed to me a trifle the brightest. It is prettily grouped 

 with surrounding stars. Herschel II. describes it in his 

 General Catalogue as " very bright, very large, very much 

 extended ; a beautiful ray." 



These two nebulae are said to have exhibited a mottled ap- 

 pearance to y , but I have met with no account of their aspect in 



