Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1855-12-27
pHEsoaEsA OF THE HEAvENs.

elevated Tegions-in the atmospheric Trans
parency~ through which we see the heaven
| ly bodies.
Visitors have often remarked on the
singular apparent nearness of celestial
armament. The moon, in particular, when
the air is very clear, seems almost within
our own. atmosphere Another effect of
this transparency is that stars remain
/, visible till the instant of their sinking be-
low the horizon, often resembling just pre-
vious to their setting. lights in remote
houses. A beautiful instance of this was
furnished a few evenings since by the last
star in the handle of the Dipper, Tor tail of
the Great Bear) which skirting the hills in
the north appeared and vanished alternately
through the treetops as the observer changed
his place. Imay add also, that on the It'll
inst. at 2 Ia P M. the moon Qhen but
two days oid) could be distinctly seen,
although the sun was shining brightly at
the time and more than two hours high.
My special desire however, in these lines
is to direct attention upon the Zodiacal
Light-which until February will increase
in brightness, and can nowhere be seen
more favorably in all its beauty than here.
1t is pyramidai light extending upward
from tie SUMS place below the horizon and
in the direction Of his path. During this
| month it is visible morning and evening,
westward of the sun in the A. NJ and
eastward of it at night Under the most
favorable circumstances it can be traced in
the morning some so degrees and at even
ing 700. 1t has however, been seen ex
tending in one case at least 100 degrees.
Its ligh, so much resembles that of a
comets tail, that the one has sometimes
been mistaken for the other. The Zodiacal
Iigh, however, when well defined, tapers
upward % point. 1t has long been a
question with astronomers how to account
for this singular phenomenon. Some have
regarded it as the expanded atmosphere of
the sun. Some have deemed it a nebuous
envelope or perhaps ring ofmatter surround
ing the sun and like in its substance that
of comets train. Other specula.ions
concerning its nature have been INDUCED,
none Of them satisfactory. The most
plausible theory as yet suggested refers it
to a nebulous body or mass revolving about
the sun. Tha, such a body exists-com-
posed Of very light inorganic substance,
gaseous, land oflistie density there is scarce
ly doubt To the intersection of its Or
ted the me,eorc showers of which at in
tervals for many ages such brilliant dis
plays have occurred. They are, so to
speak, the glit,ering spray scattered and
enkindled by the earth. ploughing its ir-
resisaible way through the nebulous mass.
At another period Of its revolution and
at the proper angle to become visible by
its feeble reflection Of the sun. light to us
it may be supposed to constitute the Zodi-
acal light.
To the passage of this same matter or
its like, across the disc Of the sun: the oc-
casional extreme palng or even shrouding
Of its light Gas on the dark day, $780, may
perhaps be referred. An instance is on
record A. ID. l547 of such observation
continuing three days-during which the
stars were visible at noon.
! 1 have extended this article already too
far. Might not few lectures on Astrono-
my be useful and entertaining, especially if
they could be illustrated by Diagrams or
accompanied by the use Of even a small
telescope' The very history Of the -celes-
,ial bodies, as objects OF profound study
from earliest simes-as associated with
great periods or scenes in the worlds
annals or as monuments of its idolatrous
apostasies, would be replete with interest.
| Even the relations Of astronomic science
with mechanics and art and indeed almost
every branch Of knowledge. wonld yield
material COR an instructive, curious, and
attractive lecture. 8.
| EkS netuetHUeI MI. NtcudfuSOn . lecture
to-night-and il you have not already at
tended to it. 60 and buy season ticket
Those who have secured this course 10 US
will not be likely to repeat the experiment
another winter unless our citizens show
their appreciation Of their effort by liberal
attendance.
Rev. John Pierpont is expected to de-
liver the next lecture on New Year night.
MAN BURIED IN WRLL.-We learn
from the Armenia Times that Mr.. Cornelius
Winters. of Copake Flats, lost his life
while digging a well in that place, on
Thursday week. When he had reached
depth of about twenty feet. large mass of
quick-sand tell in upon him, bnrying him
out Of sight An assistant removed the
earth from him SO that he could breathe,
and further help was called. He was UNI