28

III. THE STARS, SUNS OF THE INFINITE. A JOURNEY
THROUGH SPACE 56

IV. OUR STAR THE SUN 88

V. THE PLANETS. A. MERCURY, VENUS, THE
EARTH, MARS 113

VI. THE PLANETS. B. JUPITER, SATURN, URANUS,
NEPTUNE 146

VII. THE COMETS 172

VIII. THE EARTH 205

IX. THE MOON 232

X. THE ECLIPSES 259

XI. ON METHODS. HOW CELESTIAL DISTANCES
ARE DETERMINED, AND HOW THE SUN IS
WEIGHED 287

XII. LIFE, UNIVERSAL AND ETERNAL 317

INDEX 341

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Contemplation _Frontispiece_
From a painting by Paul Renaud

FIG. PAGE

1. The great Book of the Heavens is open to all eyes 15

2. The earth in space. June solstice, midday 20

3. The Great Bear (or Dipper) and the Pole Star 34

4. To find the Pole Star 35

5. To find Cassiopeia 37

6. To find Pegasus and Andromeda 37

7. Perseus, the Pleiades, Capella 38

8. To find Arcturus, the Herdsman, and the Northern Crown 40

9. The Swan, Vega, the Eagle 41

10. The Constellations of the Zodiac: summer and autumn;
Capricorn, Archer, Scorpion, Balance, Virgin, Lion 46

11. The Constellations of the Zodiac: winter and spring;
Crab, Twins, Bull, Ram, Fishes, Water-Carrier 47

12. Orion and his celestial companions 48

13. Winter Constellations 51

14. Spring Constellations 52

15. Summer Constellations 53

16. Autumn Constellations 54

17. The double star Mizar 69