PREFACE. THE present voluxne originated in a desire to present, in small compass, a record of the marvellous progress in astronomy during the past hundred years. Indebtedness should be acknowledged to the valuable works of Professor New comb, Professor SchiaparelIi, Professor Lowell, Professor Young, Sir Robert Ball, Mr Gore, M. Flammarion, and Miss CIerke, who, as the historian of modern astronomy, occupies a place at once authoritative and unique. Portions of Chapters 11. and have already appeared in the form of an article on the Con struction of the Heavens, contributed by the writer to the American periodical, Popular Astronomy.Influence of Herschela work-His characteristics-Birth and early yeara-Emigration to England--Camline Hers hel - Discovery of Uranus-Kings Astronomer-Latter pears and death-Death of Caroline Herschel . CHAPTER 11. Solar researches-Study of Venus-Of Mars-The Asteroids - Jv ter-Saturn-Discovery of satellites-Uranian wtel litea-Cometary researches-Motion of the Solar System-Discovery of binary atars-Clustera and nebuleNebulous stars-The Nebular Hypothesis-Star-gaughg-The disc theory-Subordinate cluster Abandonment of the disc. theory-Second method of star-gauging-Estimate of Herschels work, . 16 CHAPTER 111. THE SUN. Schwabe and the eun-spot period-Researches of Wolf, Zamont, Sabine, Gautier - Obaervations of Carringhn and SpBrer-Career and work of Fraunhofer-Spectrum analysis-Work of Kirchhoff-Solar eclipse work-The Solar prominences-Janseen and Lockyer-Huggins and Zollner-Work of Young-The Italian spectroscopists, Seochi, Itwpighi, Tacchini-Career of Tacchini-The reversing layer-The Corona-Dopplera principle-Rotation of the Sun-Work of Dun-Janasens solaratlas-Maunder and magnetism-Solar theories-Distance of the Sun-Summary . . 43 CHAPTER IV. Life and work of Schrijter-Of MadIer--Of Schmidt-Changes on the Moon - Selenography in Englaud-Lunar atmosphere-Lunar photography-Work of W. H. Piekering-The new Selenography-The Moons h e a t Motion of the Moon-Acceleration of the Moons mean motion-Work of Laplace, Adams, DeIaunay . . 65 THE INKER PLANETS. The problem of Vulcan-Mercury-Work of Schroter-Schiaparelli, his life and work- iYork of Lowell-Spectrum of Mercury-Venus-Rotation period work of Schriiter, Di Viw, SchiaparelIi, Tacchini, Lowell-Atmoaphere and surface of Venus--The Earth variation of latitude-Mars-Rotation of Mara-Surface-Discovery of canals-Work of Schiaparelli and LowelI-Interpretation of the can-The theory of intelIigent life-Spectrum of Mars-SateIIites-The Asteroids-Bodes law-Work of Piazzi and Olbers--Application of phohg aphy b y Wolf - Discovery of Eros . . 80 CONTEXTS. CHAPTER . . Phyaiml condition of Jupiter-Work of ZBllner and Proctor - The red spotsatellites-Discovery of fifth satellit Sixth and seventh satellites-Bins of Saturn Eond, Xaxwell, Keeler-Struves theory - Globe-of Saturn-New satellites-Uranus and its satellites-Discovery of Neptune - Adams and Le Terrier-Satellite-T ans - Neptunian planets . . 103 CHAPTER VII. Life and wo k of Olbem-His repulsion theory-Life and work of Encke-His comet-Bielas comet-Fayes comet - Return of Halleya comet--Donatifs comet-Comet of 1861-Spectroscopic study of comets-Theory of BrWik hine-Spectra of comets--Comet9 of 1880 and 1882-The mpture theory-Comehq photography . 123 CHAPTER VIII. Meteoric shower of 183GWork of Olmsted-Work of Erman and Birkwood-Of H. A...