Faculties, powers of doing anything, whether menial or bodily; abilities; powers of the mind.
What next greatly forwarded this interesting science?
The introduction of telescopes by Galileo, who by their means discovered the small stars or satellites which attend the planet Jupiter; the various appearances of Saturn; the mountains in the Moon; the spots on the Sun; and its revolution on its axis.
Satellites, attendants.
What celebrated Astronomer arose in England?
The immortal Sir Isaac Newton, born in 1642, at Woolsthorpe, in Lincolnshire, who has, perhaps, contributed more to the advancement of this science than any one who had before existed. Dr. William Herschel, a native of Hanover, in Germany, born in 1738, likewise made many useful discoveries in Astronomy: it was he who first discovered the seventh primary planet, which he named, in honor of King George the Third, the Georgium Sidus. George the Third took him under his especial patronage, and constituted him his astronomer, with a handsome pension. He resided at Slough, near Windsor, where he died, in 1822.
Patronage, support, favor.
Constituted, appointed to any particular office or rank.
Pension, yearly allowance of money.
What other circumstance contributed to the advancement of Astronomy?