New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-04
which, we understand, has been pronounced to
be the constellation Pleiades. or the Seven Stars.
ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATIONS
BY PROF. O. NJ. Mitchell or CINCINNATI
[Sketehed for THe Tribane

Chapel, in Brooklyn, was again filed by the audi
tors of Prof. Mitchell. Before adverting to the
subject announced for the evening, considerable
time was given, at the request Of one Of his audi
ence, to the examination of the miracle recorded
in the tenth chapter Of Joshua by which the sun
and moon were made to stand still IN their places
The Professor gave it as his own opinion that the
rotation of the earth was actually stopped by Di-
vine interpostion while its revolution IN Its orbit
and all the other motions OF the heavenly bodies,
continued The object of God in constructing the
universe in the form in which it now exists, he
believed to be, the development OF the human
mind. If stability and perpetuity alone had been
the objects to- be attained much simpler ar.
rangement of orbits would have accomplished the
purpose, and the only question in his mind in re-
letion to the occurrauce Of any miracle was this :
Was there an object to be attained by It's per.
Torrance greater than would be accomplished by
the ordinary course of events In the case under
consideration, the enemies of Israel were to be
taught that even the sun and moon, which were
their gods Were under the control OF jehovah
There was no difficulty to the speaker in believing
the occurrence Of miracle TO him it was all
miracle. The established motions OF the universe
were the result Of the direct will OF God cxerted
in a uniform manner; in the other case it is the
same Divine will exerted in an extraordinary way.
A moro full account Of this part OF the Lecture
is rendered unnecessary by the report OF the Lee
ture at Hone Chapel on the same subject, pub
lished in IAc IraJUnc last week On turning
his attention to the topic for this evenings con-
sideration, the speaker remarked that man was
not only endowed with faculties for the investlga-
ton of those subjects which pertained to his nat
~ br1t he ind could
the earth and penetrate the regions of the stars
he had the ability to watch the movements OF
heavenly objects and to speculate upon their ma
ture. BY this power many OF the higher faculties
of the mind form field of exercise. The first OBJ
servatory was doubtless some lofty, rocky peak,
where some solitary manlay bynight and watched
the beautiful canopy above him, trusting that at
some future period a ray of light would ilumine
his mind as to the nature OF the bright appear
ances he so loved to gaze upon. But as he
watches night after night, he finds that the rela-
tive position Of the stars and the moon is chang
ing he discovers the motion OF the moon among
the stars he also learns the motion OF the sun
and of some beautiful bright stars among those
less brilliant The period OF the revolution oil
each of these he can determine. He now seeks
tolearh their orbits and finding them to differ, in
strumenta aid is requisite to liX the angles OF in
tersccton. The Gnomon is erected, which IS
merely column standing upon level surface,
of the sun From this simple instrument inn
provement went on, accommodating the acquire
ments of ages after ages, until the astrono.
mcr was able to break away from the commonly
received opinions, which placed the earth
in the center OF the universe, and to give her an
orbit among the planets. When keplers laws
were announced, the orbits of all the planetary
bodies had been determined, and it seemed that
astronomical investig alton had reached its limits.
1t was impossible to watch with greater close
ness the celestial bodies, and before the human
mind could make further advance it must either
go to the stars or bring them down to it. Strange
to say, when it could go no further without &C
Complshing one or the other of theee Objects the
requisite means were discovered. The lecturer
here spoke of the astonisbment caused by Cali
leos invention of the Telescope and the interest
which was felt in the intrument while its use was
confined to viewing terrestrial objects But soon
it vas applied it's appropriate purpose, and the
best minds have given their best efforts to its Inn
provement and perfection, till now, by its aid, we
are able not only to penetrate to the extreme OF
our own system, but have passed over the span
which separates us from the starry host. 1t has
opened work which will last through all time
II observatories and astronomers were Infinitely
multiplied, there would be employment for all, to
occupy them forever.
What are these labors 2 Some may be disposed
to think the Observatory iR lofty building IN
which the Astronomer has nothing to do but occa
sionally amuse himself by looking at those beau
tifu Stars or inspecting the surface OF the Moon
through his immense magnihers. Such persons
are much mistaken The Astronomer holds no
SiRec1ue Ill may be seen night after night en-
during the cold of winter, with no artificial heat
allowed in his observing room, watching the
Stars through his tube noting their appear
ance, and again looking at the same Stars
and repeating his operations time after time
and wear after year. What is he doing He is
heaping up material for the Astronomers OF future
years.
are moving and strives to ascertain the speed and
direction Of their motion. Years of observation
are requisite to show that they change their
places at all, and he never hope to solve the
problem himself, though he may furnish material
from which others may do II. This self sacrificing
spirit has animated astronomers in all ages Hip
parchus of whom the speaker always thought
with yeneration, saw the heavens 1000 years
ago when they were supposed TO be chrystai
sphere and Interchangeable. But ne thought the
time might come when a change should have TAX
en- place, and he made perfect catalogue OF the
stars with their exact position which Is the most
valuable gift antiquity has presented to
The speaker then proceeded to describe some
of the details of astronomical observations The
telescope is so constructed TO extend the power
of vision, but it must also enable the observer to
mark with precision the exact position OF any
heavenly body For this purpose two fixed points,
at least must De KNOWN !Ioln "iiiOA W iACasu'
For the purposes OF observation the heavens
are supposed to be divided by meridian circles
passing through the North Pole. The meridian
on which the vernal equinox takes place is con-
sidered tie one from which tie measurements are
to be taken. This must pass our zenith at peri
DDS exactly twenty four hours apart. II star
passes the zenith one hour after the yernal equi
nox, 1t Is said to have one hour Of right ascension
and the amount Of right ascension OF any star and
its distance from the North Pole are all that is
needed to be known to establish its position
THE Speaker was at this point attacked with
sudden pain to which he is subject, but after
short pause was enabled to proceed
stretched two spiders webs, for distance of half
an inch for the purpose OF marking the center of
the tube If these bend by their weight the
amount OF detection is calculated. The polar
distance is determined by means OF large grad
uated circle fixed vertically upon the wall called