2 MY 59

THE

HEAVENS AND THE EARTH;

OR,

FAMILIAR ILLUSTRATIONS OF ASTRONOMY.

AUTHOR OF

BY THE

REV. THOMAS MILNER,

M.A., F.R.G.S.

OUR HOME ISLANDS ;""THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE," ETC.

LONDON:

THE RELIGIOUS TRACT SOCIETY;

56, PATERNOSTER ROW; 65, ST. PAUL'S CHURCHYARD;
AND 164, PICCADILLY.

SOLD BY THE BOOKSELLERS.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

CHARACTERISTICS AND USES OF ASTRONOMICAL SCIENCE.

PAGE

Astronomy-Its Objects and Antiquity-Its Peculiarity-The Telescope

-Celestial Time-Keepers-Constellation of the Cross-Divisions of

Time-Determination of Ancient Dates-Celestial Guide-Posts-De-

termination of Geographical Positions-Mode of finding the Latitude-

Longitude at Sea-The Chronometer-Lunar Method-Nautical Stars

-Voyage of Captain Basil Hall-Religious Aspects of Astronomy ..

CHAPTER II.

1

ANCIENT AND MODERN VIEWS OF THE UNIVERSE.

Optical Impressions-Ptolemaic System-Copernicus-His Origin and

Career-Copernican System-Tycho Brahe-Galileo-His Telescopic

Discoveries-Laws of Motion-Persecution of Galileo-Achievements

of Kepler-His First Law-Form of the Planetary Orbits-Second

Law-Equal Areas described in Equal Times-Third Law-Relation

between the Times to the Distances-Results-Great Problem to be

solved Ideas of an Attractive Force-Newton-Reflections on Ter-

restrial Gravity-Discovers the Law of Universal Gravitation-Laws

of Motion-Centripetal and Centrifugal Forces-Publication of the

Principia-Its Reception-Death of Newton-Stability of the System 17.

CHAPTER III.

THE GREATER LIGHT.

Distance of the Sun-Mean Distance-Solar Diameter-Circumference

-Volumes and Masses of the Sun and the Earth-Results-Solar

Rotation-Spots observed by the Naked Eye-Early Telescopic Ob-

servations-Appearances caused by the Solar Rotation - Rapid
Changes of the Spots-Their Magnitude-Nucleus and Penumbra---

Bright Spots-Theory of Wilson-Views of Herschel-Habitability

of the Sun-The Sunbeam-Light-Theories of Light-Velocity of its

Transmission-Analysis of the Sunbeam-Importance of the Lumi-

nous Principle-Influence on Vegetation-The Solar Heat-Chemical

Rays-Zodiacal Light-Blessings of the Light

CHAPTER IV.

MERCURY, VENUS, AND THEIR TRANSITS.

The Solar System-Inferior or Interior Planets-Sensible evidence of

relative position-Mercury-Elements of the Planet-Difficulty of

44