FLOWERS OF THE SKY

FLOWERS OF THESKY

By RICHARD A. PROCTOR

AUTHOR OF "THE EXPANSE OF HEAVEN," "THE INFINITIES AROUND US,""THE UNIVERSE OF STARS," "THE SUN," "THE MOON,"ETC., ETC.

WITH FIFTY-FOUR ILLUSTRATIONS

New York
A. C. ARMSTRONG AND SON
714, BROADWAY

All rights reserved

"Spirit of nature! here,

In this interminable wilderness

Of worlds, at whose immensity

Even soaring fancy staggers,

Here is thy fitting temple.

Yet not the lightest leaf

That quivers to the passing breeze

Is less instinct with thee."—Shelley.

CONTENTS.

		PAGE
I.	LIGHT	1
II.	SPACE	17
III.	THE INFINITELY MINUTE	31
IV.	THE MYSTERY OF GRAVITY	43
V.	THE END OF MANY WORLDS	56
VI.	THE AURORA BOREALIS	91
VII.	THE LUNAR HALO	114
VIII.	MOONLIGHT	125
IX.	THE PLANET MARS	149
X.	THE PLANET JUPITER	191
XI.	THE RINGED PLANET SATURN	215
XII.	FANCIED FIGURES AMONG THE STARS	236
XIII.	TRANSITS OF VENUS	273

"What soul was his, when, from the naked top

Of some bold headland, he beheld the sun

Rise up and bathe

...