The larger number of wonderful telescopic objects are to be sought
for far beyond the confines of the solar system, in regions from
which light requires years to reach us. On account of their great
distance, these objects generally require the most powerful
telescopes to be seen in the best manner; but there are quite a
number within the range of the amateur. Looking at the Milky Way,
especially its southern part, on a clear winter or summer evening,
tufts of light will be seen here and there. On examining these
tufts with a telescope, they will be found to consist of congeries
of stars. Many of these groups are of the greatest beauty, with
only a moderate optical power. Of all the groups in the Milky Way
the best known is that in the sword-handle of Perseus, which may
be seen during the greater part of the year, and is distinctly
visible to the naked eye as a patch of diffused light. With the
telescope there are seen in this patch two closely connected
clusters of stars, or perhaps we ought rather to say two centres
of condensation.
Another object of the same class is Proesepe in the constellation
Cancer. This can be very distinctly seen by the naked eye on a
clear moonless night in winter or spring as a faint nebulous
object, surrounded by three small stars.
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