45 Mr. Micuexny on the Means of difcovering the 
wax, we will fuppofe in round numbers to be only one 
io.coodth part as bright as the fun, fuch a ftar would not be 
vifible at more than an 100dth part of the diftance, at which 
it would be vifible, if it was as bright as the fun. Now be- 
ccaufe the fun would fill appear, I apprehend, as luminous, as 
the ftar Sirius, when removed to 409.coo times his prefent 
diftance, fuch a body, if no brighter than our common candles, 
would only appear equally luminous with that ftar at ‘4000 
times the diftance of the fun, and we might then begin to be 
able, with the beft telefcopes, to diftinguith fome. fenfible ap- 
parent diameter of it; but the apparent diameters of the flars 
of the lefs magnitudes would ftill be too fmall to be diftinguifh- 
able even, with our belt telefcopes, unlefs they were yet a good 
deal lefs luminous, which may. poffibly however be the cafe 
with fome of them; for, though we have indeed very flight 
grounds to go upon with regard to the fpecific brightnefs of the 
fixed {tars compared with that of the fun at prefent, and can. 
therefore only form very uncertain and random conjectures 
concerning it, yet from the infinite variety which we find in 
the works of the creation, it is not unreafonable to fufpect, 
that very poffibly fome of the fixed ftars may have fo little na- 
tural brightnets in proportion to their magnitude, as to admit 
of their diameters having fome fenfible apparent fize, when 
they fhall come to be more carefully examined, and with larger 
and better telefcopes than have been hitherto in common ufe. 
26. With regard to the fun, we know that his whole fur- 
face 1s extremely luminous, a very fmall and temporary inter- 
ruption fometimes from a few {pots only excepted. This uni- 
verfal and exceflive brightnefs of the whole furface is prcbably 
owing to an atmofphare, which being luminous throughout, 
and 
