ate XVII., to Professor
Schiaparelli for Plate XVIII., to the late Professor C. Piazzi Smyth for
Fig. 100, to Mr. Chambers for Fig. 7, which has been borrowed from his
"Handbook of Descriptive Astronomy," to Dr. Stoney for Fig. 78, and to
Dr. Copeland and Dr. Dreyer for Fig. 72. I have to acknowledge the
valuable assistance derived from Professor Newcomb's "Popular
Astronomy," and Professor Young's "Sun." In revising the volume I have
had the kind aid of the Rev. Maxwell Close.

I have also to thank Dr. Copeland and Mr. Steele for their kindness in
reading through the entire proofs; while I have also occasionally
availed myself of the help of Mr. Cathcart.

ROBERT S. BALL.

OBSERVATORY, DUNSINK, CO. DUBLIN.
_12th May, 1886._

NOTE TO THIS EDITION.

I have taken the opportunity in the present edition to revise the work
in accordance with the recent progress of astronomy. I am indebted to
the Royal Astronomical Society for the permission to reproduce some
photographs from their published series, and to Mr. Henry F. Griffiths,
for beautiful drawings of Jupiter, from which Plate XI. was prepared.

ROBERT S. BALL.

CAMBRIDGE,
_1st May, 1900_.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

INTRODUCTION 1

CHAPTER

I. THE ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY 9

II. THE SUN 29

III. THE MOON 70

IV. THE SOLAR SYSTEM 107

V. THE LAW OF GRAVITATION 122

VI. THE PLANET OF ROMANCE 150

VII. MERCURY 155

VIII. VENUS 167

IX. THE EARTH 192

X. MARS 208

XI. THE MINOR PLANETS 229

XII. JUPITER 245

XIII. SATURN 268

XIV. URANUS 298

XV. NEPTUNE 315

XVI. COMETS 336

XVII. SHOOTING STARS