Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-10-22
THE RING OF SATURN.


foh THE NATIONAL IsTELLIGEScER
mere are many curious theories Of the physical cha
'er Of the ring OF Saturn, of which we will copy
Tor those readers of the Integencer who are
IN he history and present state Of astronomical science
MAurERTUis very great philosopher, was we believe,
the first continental convert to the Nevton;an baor ~
the universal attraction of matter He believed that the
ring OF Saturn is made Of the tails Of comets which nm
fortunately coming too near caught their bodies
were made moons, and their tails converted into ring
NJ DE SEJouR thought this to be very reasonable theory
ana ne added 10 IL as the ring made Of successive Law
ers that the comets caught at very different epoes
But de Seour like other great men, saw reason to
change his opinion. Being mathematician he made a
calculation which satisfied himself that planets had not
the power to capture the passing comets and to twist
their tails into rings. NJ MARION believed that the
ring is the equator of large planet which broke down
or shrunk up to the dimensions of the present sphere
Saturn leaving its equatorial shell suspended as the
" Landmarks" of its former size. JAMES CAsSINI taught
that the ring composed of infinite number Of very
small satellites BuFFoNs theory that Saturn was once
fluid, and that the fluid of its equator elevated
ring by the of its centrifugal force water is
scattered from twrlng mop" DR.. j ROBINSON taught
that the ring is solid and coherent because if it not
its materials would be scattered Gas water is scattered
from whirling mop the mop is useful illustration.
HERscHEL believed the ring to be solid, and gave very
good for his faith Of which was erng casts
dense shado,c on the planet
Thus the physical character of the ring has perplexed
astronomers and st have its motions and position
given trouble to them There is so much difference in
distance of the interior and exterior mgs of the ring that
according to the proportion of period distance the
outer edge would raSolve in seventeen hours while the
inner edge would complete its period eleven hours
How great the rubbing together and friction If the
partsl
Every knows that the procession of the equinoxes
caused the Newtonan theory, by the attraction Of
the sun and moon the protuberant matter of the
earths equator OF course then, the ring of Saturn,
being also prouberant matter would be tilted back and
forth, or lay still in the plane of the eciptic These
are objections which find in the books, not
Again: LApLAcE demonstrated that solid ring could
Withstand the attraction of Saturn and remain suspended
provided the ring certain degree eccentric This
demonstration has been for many years. in this country
as well as in Europe, the orthodox opinion Professor
PIERCE, very eminent mathematician, has recently de-
n,onsated that solid ring, eccentric circular, would
not hold itself up against the attraction of Saturn.
We incline very much to the opinion that the ring is
solid and coherent yet perfectly stable. The ring is in
danger from the theory Of universal gravitaon but
the theory seems according to the demonstrations of
thematcans, to be somewhat endangered by the ring l.
is comforting thought that every portion of the universe
of equilibrium. The works Of God stand forever while
theory Of explanation is but of thought, to be
buried by a succeeding wave. s. E. G.