THE “GEM” CLUSTER IN ARGO. 29 
and darkness, but the general form Ihave described can 
ou 
with ease. The more I[ have studied this 
obj the m vince “that these light streams, 
as I have already said, are like clouds floating in our atmosphere, 
space, oo the entire thickness of the stellar stratum which 
surrounds us” ; and yet at other times, when looking at the same 
place Sirdugh a clearer oe minute and scattered star points 
begin to apper, and one asks—Are these the brighter stars of some 
distant galaxy? Is it after all only an open space in the star 
depths, lan as one sees in their lateral expansion—only a loop in 
a link of that chain which binds us to infinity? The ieee 
may be asked have these stars increased in brilliance since first 
both set this down as a nebula, but said nothing of the stars ; 
Sore oe of it as a cluster of very small stars, and ras 
uable account of it. “A fine, bret, rich, not very large 
cluster,” are terms which might apply to cluster of very different 
relative brilliance, especially when nothing is said about the mag- 
nitude of any of the stars. Brisbane is dhe sane one who mentions 
: ere 
that there is any proof of change in the brilliance of this object ; 
yet it is remarkable that one which is now so bright should have 
been over with so little notice. In arranging these 
in the catalogue I have departed from the usual plan, and adopted 
one which is much more convenient in the making, and bier I 
makes it easier to refer to the positions of the stars. The 
Plan in question ists in dividing the map into four quad- 
passing reference star, and entering them in the order 
of increase without signs. The four quadrants are thus marked : 
