Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-08-31
A NEW NEBULA.
Tho Wonderful Results of an Experiment
Recently Made In Paris

Recently MADE IN fariS-
The Paris observatory has in success-
full working order mn ingenious and eff
fective apparatus for celestial photog-
raphy. Mcssra Paul aid Prosper
Henry. able and earnest workers at the
observatory. photographed. by means
of this apparatus the well-known clus-
ter of stars called the Pleiades on tho
10Th OF last November. Greatly to
their surprise, new nebula made its
appearance on the Photographic plate
This wonderful agent pictured an OBJ
ject which their closest observation
through the largo telescope of the Paris
observatory failed TO detect In order
to mako assurance doubly sure. tho
cluster was photographed three times
subsequently, on the Sth and 9th Of
December and on the Sth Of January.
The result was always tho same, The
nebula was plainly discerned in tho
photograph. and refused to appear to
the eye oi the observer in the telescope.
The Messrs Henry have published
drawing of the new nebuhL II has
curious and weird appearance. 1t
seems 10 start from Maia, one of tho
seven sisters of the group. moving at
first toward the west and then turning
suddenly toward the north and at last
fading into inviSlbility, and at dis
tancc Qf about three seconds from the
star. a moro distinct and ill-deiined
portion of the ncbula makes its way TO
the south The ncbula is very intense
and takes on u plainly marked spiral
form, bearing u resemblance 10 gro
tesquc aud one-sided solar corona and
suggesting the great nebula OF Orion
on a small scale.
The discovery OF tho nebula in tho
Plciadcs has revived the memory of
mysterious objects that have been seen
from time TO time among the stars Of
this group. In l779 Jeaurnt published
chart OF the PlcIades on which n
ncbula appears near the star Atlas. In
1859 Tcmpel discovered u nebna in tho
same cluster, rear tho star Merope,
which was seen by several other Oh
servcrA Both Of these nclulp hnve
disappeared, and the nebula discovered
by the llenrys occupies nm entirely diff
icrent place, apparently branching out
from Maia. Three. therefore, Of the
stars composing the Pleiadcs either arc
or have been surrounded by nebulous
masses.
The most interesting fact concerning
the new nebula is that related by Prof.
Pickering. OF the Harvard college OBJ
scrvatory. A photograph of the Pici-
AIDES was taken nj the observatory on
the Sd OF November that developed GER
tain Irregularities It was exhibited
on the 10th OF the same month at tho
Albany meeting of the National Acad-
cmy of Sciences These Irregularities
were discussed. and supposed to be due
TO defects in tho Photographic process
The photographs have been re-exam-
;ned since the discovery of the HenryS
One Of the irregularities 80 closely cor
responds to the new nebula that no
doubt can exist In regard to its origin
II must represent hgnt photograph
ically perccptibh in tho vicinity of
Maia The other markings ON the
Cambridge photograph have acquired
new interest. There seems TO bo in
dications OF nebulous light about Mer-
ppe, and faint, narrow streak Of light
projecting from one side of Electra,
Thus American astronomers came near
winning the honor that wac won thir-
teen days later by Paris astronomers.
Although tho McssrS Henry have thus
far been unable to detect the new neb-
ula by the aid of the telescope, other
astronomers have been more successful.
Nj. Pcrrotn. Of the observatory of Nice,
where the atmospheric conditions are
far more favorable than in Paris, an
nOunces that ho has seen the famous
new ncbulL The observation was
mado February %. and the feat was
accomplished by masking Maia. The
nebula was again observed March
and 4, not only by NJ Perrotin, but BY
his companions Mcssrs Thellou anc
CARLOS. .,,t
The Importance of photography In
exploring tho heavens can not DO too
highly appreciated. 1t is claimed that
with the telescope now in use the
human eve can detoct no stars smaller
than those Of tho fourteenth magni-
tudo Photography then can pierce to
depth Of space beyond the power Of
the sense Of sight What wonders may
bc developed through its agency in tho
hturol Mapping the starry heavens
is but one department of astronomical
photography, but its value words may
not calculate. The astronomers Of tho
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 referred TO one hundred
years, or even fifty years hence every
departure from tho records, every dis
appearance of star, every appear
ance OF u new star, every change of
position will mark the occurrence of
some stupendous event in the economy
of the material universe. Observation
piled upon observation Is the only
means by which at present the inhab-
itants of this little planet may hope to
ii. 4. 4. a.