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THE EARTH'S

BEGINNING

BY

SIR ROBERT STAWELL BALL

LL.D., F.R.S.

99 66

AUTHOR OF "THE STORY OF THE HEAVENS, STAR-LAND," ETC.

LOWNDEAN PROFESSOR OF ASTRONOMY AND GEOMETRY

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GENERAL

COPYRIGHT, 1902

By D. APPLETON AND COMPANY

Published May, 1902

Copyright 1901 by Cassell and Company, Limited

R3
1902

PREFACE

I HAD often wished for an opportunity of attempting a popular exposition of that splendid branch of Astronomy which treats of the evolution of the Earth, the planets and the sun from the fire-mist.

The opportunity was given me by the kindness of the managers of the Royal Institution of Great Britain. They entrusted to me once again the honourable duty of delivering the course of Christmas Lectures adapted to an audience of young people.

The Lectures were accordingly given last winter, and, after some omissions and some additions, they are set forth in the present volume.

I owe many thanks for aid rendered in the illustrations. The Royal Society, The Royal Astronomical Society, The Greenwich Observatory, The Lick Observatory, The Yerkes Observatory, have all contributed; and so have my friends, Sir W. Huggins, K.C.B., Sir D. Gill, K.C.B., Dr. Isaac Roberts, Dr. W. E. Wilson, Professor J. P. O'Reilly, and M. Flammarion.

I am also deeply indebted to Dr. A. A. Rambaut and Mr. L. E. Steele for their kindness in correcting the proofs.

ROBERT S. BALL.

Cambridge Observatory, 2nd August, 1901.

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