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 GENERAL COPYRIGHT, 1902 By D. APPLETON AND COMPANY Published May, 1902 Copyright 1901 by Cassell and Company, Limited R3 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. 179898 |