Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-05-20
PHOTOGRAPHING THE HEAVENS.
The Wonderful Results ola Experiment Re-
Gently Made in Paris.

Providence Journal.
The Paris observatory has in successful
working order an ingenious and effective
apparatus for celestial photographed
Messrs. Paul and Prosper Henry, able and
earnest workers at the observatory, photo
graphed, by means of this apparatus, the
well-known cluster of stars called the
Pleiades on the 10th of last November.
Greatly to their surprise, new nebula
made its appearance on the photographic
plate. This wonderful agent pictured an
object which their closest observation
through the large telescope of the paris
observatory failed to detect. In order to
make assurance doubly sure, the cluster
was photographed three times subseouen-
tly, on the Sth and 9th of December and
on the Sth of January. The result was
always the same. The nebula was plainly
descerned in the photograph, and refused
to appear to the eye of the observer in the
telescope.
The Messrs. Henry have published
drawing of the new nebula. It has a curl
Gus ond peird appearance 1t seems to
start from Maia, one of the seven sisters
of the group, moving at first toward the
west and then turning suddenly toward
the north and at last fading into invisibi-
llty, at distance of about three seconds
from the star. A more distinct and ILL
defined portion of the nebula is very in
tense and takes on a plainly market spiral
from, bearing resemblance to grotesque
and One-sided solar corona, and suggest
ing the great nebula of Orion on a small
scale.
The discovery of this nebula in the
Pleiades has revived the memory of mys-
FERROUS object that stars of this group.
In 1873 Jeaurat published a chart of the
Plelades on which nebula appears near
the star Atlas. In 1859 Tempel discover
ed nebula IN the same cluster, near the
star MerOpe, which was seen by several
other observers. Both of these nebulae
have disappeared, and the nebula discover
ed by the Henrys occupies an entirely
different place, apparently branching out
from Maia. Three, therefore, of the stars
composing the Pleiades either are or have
been surrounded by nebulous masses.
The most interesting fact concerning
the new nebuIa is that related by Prof
Pickering, of the Harvard college observa-
tory. A photograph of the Pleiades was
taken at the observatory on the Sd of Nov
ember that developed certain irregnlari-
ties were discussed to be due to defects
in the Photographic process. The photo
graphs haYe been re-examined since the
discovery of the Henrys. One of the ir-
Irregularities so closely corresponds to the
new nebula that no doubt can exist in re-
gard to its origin. 1t must represent
light photographicalIy perceptibIe in the
vicinity of Maia. the other markings on
the Cambridge photograph have acquired
new interest. There seems to be indica-
tions of nebulous light about Merope, and
n fai int ctr Of IC,b+
from one side of Electra. Thus American
astronomers came near winning the honor
that was won thirteen days later by Paris
astronomers. Although the Messrs. Hen
ry have thus far been unable to detect the
new nebula by the aid of the telescope.
other astronomers have been more sue
cessful. M. PerrOtin, Of the observatory
of Nice, where the atmOs pheric conditions
are far more favorable than in Paris, an
nOunces that he has seen the famous new
nebula. The observation was made Feb.
%, and the feat was accomplished by
masking Maia- The nebula was again OBJ
served March 3 and 4, not only by M. Per-
rOtin, but by his companions, Messrs.
Thellou and CARLOS.
The Importance of photography in ex-
ploring the heavens can not be too highly
appreciated. It is claimed that with the
telescopes now in nse the human eye can
detect no stars smaller than those of the
fourteenth magnitude. Photography then
can pierce to depth of space beyond the
power of the sense of sight. What won
ders may be developed through its agency
in the future! Mapping the starry heav-
ems is but one department of astronomi-
cal photography, dut its value works may
not calculate. the astronomers of the
closing portion of the nineteenth century
are thus enabled to bequeath to those who
come after them an exact picture of the
starlit sky. When these maps are REFER
ed to one hundred years, or even fifty
years. hence every departure from the re-
cords, every disappearance of a star,
every appearance OF a new star, every
change of position will mark the occurr-
ence of some stuyendons event in the
economy of the material universe. OBJ
servation piled upon observation is the
only means by which at present the inha-
bitants of this little planet may hope to
discover the secrets now hidden in the star
depths.