I take great pleasure in acknowledging my indebtedness to J. M. Van Vleck, LL.D., of the U.S. Nautical Almanac staff, and Professor of Astronomy at the Wesleyan University, for inspecting some of the more important chapters; to Dr. S. S. White, of Philadelphia, for telescopic advantages; to Professor Henry Draper, for furnishing, in advance of publication, a photograph of the sun's corona in 1878; and to the excellent work on "Popular Astronomy," by Professor Simon Newcomb, LL.D., Professor U. S. Naval Observatory, for some of the most recent information, and for the use of the unequalled engravings of Jupiter, Saturn, and the great nebula of Orion. [Page ix] CONTENTS. CHAP. I. CREATIVE PROCESSES II. CREATIVE PROGRESS Constitution of Light Chemistry of Suns revealed by Light Creative Force of Light III. ASTRONOMICAL INSTRUMENTS The Telescope The Reflecting Telescope The Spectroscope IV. CELESTIAL MEASUREMENTS Celestial Movements How to Measure V. THE SUN What the Sun does for us VI. THE PLANETS, AS SEEN FROM SPACE The Outlook from the Earth VII. SHOOTING-STARS, METEORS, AND COMETS Aerolites Comets Famous Comets Of what do Comets consist? Will Comets strike the Earth? VIII. THE PLANETS AS INDIVIDUALS Vulcan Mercury Venus The Earth The Aurora Borealis [Page x] The Delicate Balance of Forces Tides The Moon Telescopic Appearance Eclipses Mars Satellites of Mars Asteroids Jupiter Satellites of Jupiter Saturn Rings of Saturn Satellites of Saturn Uranus Neptune IX. THE NEBULAR HYPOTHESIS. X. THE STELLAR SYSTEM The Open Page of the Heavens Equatorial Constellations Characteristics of the Stars Number Double and Multiple Stars Colored Stars Clusters of Stars Nebulæ Variable Stars Temporary, New, and Lost Stars Movements of Stars XI. THE WORLDS AND THE WORD XII. THE ULTIMATE FORCE SUMMARY OF LATEST DISCOVERIES AND CONCLUSIONS SOME ELEMENTS OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM EXPLANATION OF ASTRONOMICAL SYMBOLS Signs of the Zodiac Other Abbreviations Used in the Almanac Greek Alphabet Used Indicating the Stars CHAUTAUQUA OUTLINE FOR STUDENTS GLOSSARY OF ASTRONOMICAL TERMS AND INDEX [Page xi] ILLUSTRATIONS