The story of the universe. Volume 1 (of 4) : $b The starry skies
History
The story of the universe. Volume 1 (of 4) : $b The starry skies
Astronomy; Earth (Planet); Natural history
The distance of these globular clusters from the earth is, however,
certainly very great. Attempts to accurately determine their position
in space have not been attended with success. As the component
stars are at practically the same distance from the eye, we have
no comparison stars to measure from, and their exact distance,
therefore, remains unknown. We may, however, estimate their probable
distance with some show of plausibility. We may assume that the stars
of the Hercules cluster would, if concentrated in a point, shine
as a star of about the fourth magnitude. As the components are of
about the twelfth and thirteenth magnitudes, this would imply that
the cluster consists of about 2,500 stars. With the data assumed, we
may therefore conclude that the components of the Hercules cluster
are suns of comparatively small size, separated by considerable
distances, but apparently massed together by the effect of distance.
Among less condensed star clusters there are many interesting
objects. The Pleiades have been already referred to. On a photograph
of this remarkable group, taken at the Paris Observatory, over 2,000
stars can be counted of all degrees of brilliancy, from those
visible without optical aid down to points of light so faint as
to be invisible to the eye in the telescope with which they were
photographed. Here we have a cluster of probably larger size than
that in Hercules, probably at a greater distance from the earth, and
with its larger components of considerably greater mass than our sun.
Near the bright star Pollux, I see a small cluster of stars of
about the seventh and eight magnitudes, which, with a binocular
field-glass, very much resembles the Pleiades as seen with the naked
eye. A smaller cluster (known as 39 Messier) may be seen near the
star Pi Cygni.
The well-known Chi Persei may be also seen with an opera-glass, but
a telescope is necessary to show the component stars to advantage,
and the larger the telescope the greater the number of faint stars in
these wonderful objects.
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