Project Gutenberg's The Story of the Heavens, by Robert Stawell Ball

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Title: The Story of the Heavens

Author: Robert Stawell Ball

Release Date: December 1, 2008 [EBook #27378]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

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preserved. Only obvious typographical errors have been corrected.

THE STORY OF THE HEAVENS

[Illustration: PLATE I.

THE PLANET SATURN, IN 1872.]

THE

STORY OF THE HEAVENS

SIR ROBERT STAWELL BALL, LL.D. D.Sc.

_Author of_ "_Star-Land_"

FELLOW OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON, HONORARY FELLOW OF THE ROYAL
SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH, FELLOW OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY,
SCIENTIFIC ADVISER TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF IRISH LIGHTS, LOWNDEAN
PROFESSOR OF ASTRONOMY AND GEOMETRY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, AND
FORMERLY ROYAL ASTRONOMER OF IRELAND

_WITH TWENTY-FOUR COLOURED PLATES AND NUMEROUS
ILLUSTRATIONS_

NEW AND REVISED EDITION

CASSELL AND COMPANY, LIMITED
_LONDON, PARIS, NEW YORK & MELBOURNE_
1900

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

[Illustration: LA.BELLE SAUVAGE]

PREFACE TO ORIGINAL EDITION.

I have to acknowledge the kind aid which I have received in the
preparation of this book.

Mr. Nasmyth has permitted me to use some of the beautiful drawings of
the Moon, which have appeared in the well-known work published by him in
conjunction with Mr. Carpenter. To this source I am indebted for Plates
VII., VIII., IX., X., and Figs. 28, 29, 30.

Professor Pickering has allowed me to copy some of the drawings made at
Harvard College Observatory by Mr. Trouvelot, and I have availed myself
of his kindness for Plates I., IV., XII., XV.

I am indebted to Professor Langley for Plate II., to Mr. De la Rue for
Plates III. and XIV., to Mr. T.E. Key for Pl