SIDE-LIGHTS ON ASTRONOMY

AND KINDRED FIELDS OF POPULAR SCIENCE


ESSAYS AND ADDRESSES


BY SIMON NEWCOMB




CONTENTS


PREFACE

I. THE UNSOLVED PROBLEMS OF ASTRONOMY
II. THE NEW PROBLEMS OF THE UNIVERSE
III. THE STRUCTURE OF THE UNIVERSE
IV. THE EXTENT OF THE UNIVERSE
V. MAKING AND USING A TELESCOPE
VI. WHAT THE ASTRONOMERS ARE DOING
VII. LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE
VIII. HOW THE PLANETS ARE WEIGHED
IX. THE MARINER'S COMPASS
X. THE FAIRYLAND OF GEOMETRY
XI. THE ORGANIZATION OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
XII. CAN WE MAKE IT RAIN?