х may be con the Centre vens. of the Earth's Annual Orbit, appears from the nearest fixed Star no bigger than a Point, and the fixed Stars are at least 100,000 times farther from us than we are from the Sun ; as may be demonftrated from the Obfervations of those who have endeavoured to find the Parallax of the Earth's Annual Orb, or the Angle under which the Earth's Orbit appears from the fixed Stars. As to apHence it follows, that tho' we approach pearance, nearer to fome fixed Stars at one time of the the Earth Year than we do at the oppofite, and that fider'd as by the whole Length of the Diameter of the being in Earth's Orbit; yet this Distance being so of the Hea- fmall in comparison with the Distance of the fixed Stars, their Magnitudes or Pofitions cannot thereby be fenfibly altered. Therefore we may always, without Error, fuppose ourselves to be in the fame Centre of the Heavens, fince we always have the fame vifible Profpect of the Stars without any Alteration. If a Spectator was placed as near to any fixed Star, as we are to the Sun, he would there observe a Body as big, and every way like, as the Sun appears to us; and our Sun The fixed would appear to him no bigger than a fixed Star and undoubtedly he would reckon the Sun as one of them in numbring the Stars. Wherefore fince the Sun differeth nothing from a fixed Star, the fixed Stars may be reckoned fo many Suns. Stars are It Stars are other. It is not reasonable to fuppofe that all the fixed Stars are placed at the fame distance from us; but it is more probable that they The fixed are every where interfperfed thro' the vast at vaft indefinite Space of the Universe; and that Distance there may be as great a Distance betwixt any from each two of them, as there is betwixt our Sun and the nearest fixed Star. Hence it follows, why they appear to us of different Magnitudes, not because they really are so, but because they are at different Distances from us; those that are nearest, excelling in Brightness and Luftre those that are more remote, who give a fainter Light, and appear finaller to the Eye. the Stars TheAftronomers diftribute the Stars into fe- The Distri veral Orders or Claffes; thofe that are nearest bution of to us, and appear brightest to the Eye, are into fix called Stars of the firft Magnitude; thofe Claffes. that are nearest to them in Brightness and Luftre, are called Stars of the fecond Magnitude; thofe of the third Clafs, are ftiled Stars of the third Magnitude; and fo on, until we come to the Stars of the fixth Magnitude, which are the smallest that can be difcerned by the naked Eye. There are infinite numbers of smaller Stars, that can be seen through Telescopes; but these are not reduced to any of the fix Orders, and are only called of Telesco Telescopical Stars. It may be here obferved, pical Stars. that tho' the Aftronomers have reduced all' the Stars that are vifible to the naked Eye, into fome one or other of these Claffes; yet we we are not to conclude from thence that all the Stars answer exactly to fome or other of thefe Orders; but there may be in reality as many Orders of the Stars as they are in Number, few of them appearing exactly of the fame Bignefs and Luftre. The ancient Aftronomers, that they might diftinguish the Stars, in regard to their Situation and Pofition to each other, divided the whole starry Firmament into several Afterifms, or Syftems of Stars, confist ing of those that are near to one another. The Stars Thefe Afterims are called Conftellations, digefted into Con- and are digefted into the Forms of some fellations. Animals, as Men, Lions, Bears, Serpents, &c. or to the Images of fome known things, as of a Crown, a Harp, a Triangle, &c. The Starry Firmament was divided by the Ancients into 48 Images or Constellations; twelve of which they placed in that part of the Heavens wherein are the Planes of the Planetary Orbits; which part is Zodiack. called the Zodiack, because most of the Conftellations placed therein resemble fome living Creature. The two Regions of the Heavens that are on each fide of the Zodiack, are called the North and South parts of the Heavens. tions with Conflella- The Constellations within the Zodiack, in the Zo-are, 1. Aries, the Ram; 2. Taurus, the Bull; 3. Gemini, the Twins; 4. Cancer, the Crab; s. Leo, the Lion; 6. Virgo, the diack. Virgin; Virgin; 7. Libra, the Ballance; 8. Scorpio, the Scorpion; 9. Sagittarius, the Archer; 10. Capricornus, the Goat; 11. Aquarius, the Water-Bearer; and, 12. Pifces, the Fishes. The Conftellations on the North Side Northern Conftellaof the Zodiack are Twenty One, viz. tions. the Little Bear; the Great Bear; the Dragon; Cepheus, a King of Ethiopia; Bootes, the Keeper of the Bear; the Northern Crown; Hercules with his Club, watching the Dragon; the Harp; the Swan; Caffiopeia; Perfeus; Andromeda; the Triangle; Auriga; Pegafus, or the Flying Horfe; Equuleus; the Dolphin; the Arrow; the Eagle; Serpentarius; and the Serpent. The Conftellations noted by the Ancients Southern on the South Side of the Zodiack, were tions. Conftellafifteen, viz. The Whale, the River Eridanus, the Hare; Orion; the Great Dog; Little Dog; the Ship Argo; Hydra; the Centaur ; the Cup; the Crow; the Wolf; the Altar; the Southern Crown; and the Southern Fish. To these have been lately added the following, viz. The Phenix: the Crane; the Peacock; the Indian; the Bird of Paradife; the Southern Triangle; the Fly; Cameleon; the Flying Fish; Toucan, or the American Goofe; the Water Serpent, and the Sword Fifh. The Ancients placed thefe particular Conftellations or Figures in the Heavens, I Heavens, either to commemorate the Deeds of fome great Man,or of fome notableExploit or Action; or else took them from the Fables of their Religion, &c. And the Modern Aftronomers do ftill retain them, to avoid the Confufion that would arife by making new ones, when they compared the modern Obfervations with the old ones. Some of the principal Stars have particular Names given them, as Syrius, Ārēturus, &c. There are alfo feveral Stars that are not reduced into Conftellations, and Unformed these are called Unformed Stars. Stars. Befides the Stars vifible to the naked Eye, there is a very remarkable Space in the HeaThe Galaxy vens, called the Galaxy, or Milky Way. or Milky This is a broad Circle of a whitish Hue, Way. like Milk, going quite round the whole Heavens; and confifting of an infinite Number of fmall Stars, vifible thro' a Telescope, tho' not difcernible by the naked Eye, by reafon of their exceeding Faintnefs; yet with their Light they combine to illustrate that part of the Heavens where they are, and to cause that shining Whiteness. The Places of the Fixed Stars, or their relative Situations one from another, have been carefully obferved by Aftronomers, and digefted into Catalogues. The first among the Greeks, who reduced the Stars into a Catalogue, was Hypparcus, who, from his own Obfervations, and of those who lived |