The Trouvelot astronomical drawings manualTrouvelot, E. L. (Etienne Leopold)
Science
The Trouvelot astronomical drawings manual
Trouvelot, E. L. (Etienne Leopold)
Astronomy -- Pictorial works
Although comparatively rare, double and multiple nebulæ may be found in
the sky. When this occurs, their constituents most commonly belong to
the class of spherical nebulæ. Sometimes the components are separated
and distinct, at other times one of them is projected upon the other,
either really or by the effect of perspective. Sometimes one is round
and the other elongated. It is probable that while some of these nebulæ
are physically associated and form a system, others appear to be so only
because they happen to be almost in a line with the observer. A double
nebula in Draco, Nos. 4,127 and 4,128, which I have drawn, is a fair
type of those which are separated. The first is a globular nebula, and
the last an oval one, with a star at its centre. The double nebula, Nos.
858 and 859, in Taurus, which I have also studied, is a type of the
cases in which one nebula is partly projected on another. In this
instance both the nebulæ are globular.
The nebulæ in general show very little color in their light, which is
ordinarily whitish and pale. Some, however, present a decided bluish or
greenish tint. The great nebula in Orion has a greenish cast, and we
have seen that some planetary nebulæ are bluish.
It has been a question whether nebulæ are changing. It has already been
stated that Prof. Holden believes there is ground to suspect that the
Trifid and Horse-shoe nebulæ have undergone some changes. A nebula near
_ε_ Tauri has been lost and found again several times. Two other
nebulæ in the same constellation have presented curious variations.
One, near a star of the tenth magnitude, exhibited variations of
brightness like those of the star itself, and for a time disappeared.
The other, near _ζ_ Tauri, increased in brightness for three months,
after which it disappeared. In 1859 Tempel discovered a nebula in the
Pleiades, which has shown some fluctuations. In 1875 I made a long study
of this object, and drew it carefully a dozen times, but I was not able
to see any changes in it within the two or three months during which my
observations were continued. But on Nov. 24, 1876, it was found of a
different color, being purplish and very faint. On Dec. 23, 1880, it was
found just as bright and visible as when I drew it in 1875, and on Oct.
20, 1881, it appeared faint and purplish again, as in 1876. On this last
night, and on those which followed it, it was impossible for me to trace
the nebulosity as far as in 1875. I consider this as due to a variation
in the light of this object, which in 1875 was bright enough to be well
seen while the Moon after her First Quarter was within ten or fifteen
degrees from the Pleiades.
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