508 
EARL ROSSE’S OBSERVATIONS ON THE NEBULAE. 
slightest indication of resolvability. The outer ring is seen on a pretty good night 
completely separated from the nucleus surrounding the brilliant point or star. The 
light is very bright, and always appeared to be flickering, owing no doubt to the 
unsteadiness of the atmosphere. There is a small dark space to the right of the star, 
which indicates a perforation similar perhaps to that discovered in Nos. 838, 2050, 
and others. The annular form of this object was detected by Mr. Johnstone Stoney, 
my assistant, when observing alone, and the sketch is his ; I have however since 
had ample opportunities of satisfying myself that the object has been accurately 
represented. Plate XXXVIII. fig. 16 represents the other nebulous star, /Orionis: 
the remarkable feature in this object, the dark cavity, not symmetrical with the 
star, was also discovered by Mr. Johnstone Stoney when observing alone with 
the 3-feet telescope ; I have since seen it several times and sketched it. The com- 
ponents of /Orionis have not been laid down micrometrically, or even with care 
by the eye, but the dark cavity with respect to the stars is faithfully represented. 
If the dark cavity was symmetrical Muth the stars, it might perhaps be thought 
by some that the phenomenon was optical, but as it is the thing is impossible. A 
small double star n f has similar openings, but they are not so easily seen. These 
openings appear to be of the same character as the opening within the bright stars 
of the trapezium of Orion, the stars being at the edges of the opening. Had the 
stars been situated all together within the openings, the suspicion would perhaps 
have suggested itself more strongly that the nebula had been absorbed by the stars. 
As it is, I think we can hardly fail to conclude that the nebula is in some way con- 
nected with these bright stars, in fact that they are equidistant, and therefore, if the 
inquiries about parallax, now proceeding with so mueh activity, should result in 
giving us the distances of these bright stars, we shall have the distance of this nebula. 
The long elliptic or lenticular nebulse are very numerous; I have given three sketches 
of remarkable objects of this class : the appearance of Plate XXXVII. fig. 7 suggests 
the idea of an elliptic annular system seen very obliquely. A series of very elliptic 
shells enveloping the nucleus, seen somewhat obliquely, would perhaps also present 
the same aspect. The dark chink in Plate XXXVII. fig. 8 might indicate either a 
real opening, the system being an elliptic ring, or merely a line of comparative dark- 
ness, the section through the axis of a very long narrow elliptic shell. In Plate 
XXXVII. fig. 9 there is a well-marked stratification, which might possibly be the 
appearance, Plate XXXVII. fig. 7, on the first supposition, would present if seen in 
another direction. It is to be hoped that as observations multiply, and these extra- 
ordinary objects which abound in the heavens are seen in various directions, we shall 
gradually become acquainted with their real form. At present further conjectures 
would be to no purpose. 
The remaining sketch, Plate XXXVIII. fig. 1 7, is the dumb-bell nebula as seen 
with the 6-feet telescope : the sketch is by Mr. Johnstone Stoney, and the form of 
the nebulosity and its various gradations of intensity have been represented with 
considerable fidelity. There was no subsequent opportunity of marking in the stars. 
