Previous to the time of Galileo, astronomical instruments were of the most primitive and crudeconstruction, and were, in consequence, of feeble assistance. After the invention of the telescope, andits improvement by Galileo, these instruments have evolved with marvelous speed, until now, with theamazingly accurate measur- ing attachments to the telescope; that greatest wonder of all the ages, thespectroscope, the analyzer of light; and the photographic plate, that magic recorder of the faintestimpression of light, it seems that we have reached the limit of the science of optics. However, that somenew and still more marvelous improvement or in- vention will appear seems, from analogy, to be almostcertain. Many times before has Man been at the apparent limit of his abilities, only to step boldly andsuccessfully beyond.Directly following is a chronology of the main events of Astronomy. For the first part it is necessarily
