Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1872-07-25
JUPITER.
The M Mlntaturo Sum.

cAOA"OuS "uSoCS u CIOuu bu6pcIlUeu
IN the atmosphere of Jupiter. And it
seems difficult to conceive that the
clouds could be maintained ut great
height above the real surface of the
planet unless that surface were intense
ly hot-as hot. perhaps, as red hot
iron. If we supposed this to be the
case, we should find at once an expla-
nation of the ruddy aspect of the dark
belts. Nor would the change of the
great equatorial belt from white to red
imply more than that, owing to some
unknown cause clouds had not formed
during the last two years over the plan
cts equatorial zone, ,or, having formed,
had been dispersed in some way. We
need not even imagine a complete dis
persion, since the best telescopes, and
notably Mr.: Buckingham's fine twenty
one inch refractor, have shown always
q multitude of minute, cloud.like OBJ
jects over the ruddy equatorial zone.
But the idea Of red hot planet, or
of a planet partially red hot, will appear
at the first view too biz0rri to be enter
tanned even for a moment. We have
been so accustomed to regard Jupiter
and Saturn Us other worlds, that the
mind is disposed to reject the coDcep-
ton that they eau be so intensely
heated as to be utterly unfit to be the
abode Of living creatures.
This unwillingness to accept startling
ideas is not to be altogether repre-
hended, since it prevents the mind
from forming rash and baseless specu-
lations. Yet we must not suffer this
mental habitude, excellent though 1t
may be in its proper place, to interfere
with the admission of conclusions
which seem based on Trustworthy evi-
dence. Let Us then inquire whether
the startling hypothesis to which We
have been led by the study of observed
facts, may not be found to be in agree.
ment with other facts not yet consid-
cred.
1t will be obvious that if the real
globe of Jupiter is thus intensely heat
ed, q portion of the planets light
must be inherent. Therefore we might
expect that the planet would shine
somewhat more brightly than a globe
OF equal size and similarly placed,
shining merely by rejecting the suns
light. Now two series of good cbserv-
ations have been made upon the lumin-
osity of Jupiter: One was made by
the late Prof. Bond, If America, the
other by DR.. Zoller of Germany. Ac-
cording to the former, Jupiter shines
more brightly than he would if he re-
dected the whole of the light falling
upon himl According to the latter
and more trustworthy series, Jupiter
does not indeed shine quite so brightly
as Prof. Bond supposed, but the planet
shines three times as brightly as a
globe OF equal size would shine, il sim.
ilarly placed, but constituted Like Mars,
and four times as brightly rs such a
globe would shine if constituted like
our moon. Jupiter shines in fact very
nearly as brightly as though he were
constituted like one of our terrestrial
clouds!
This result is highly significant. If
Jupiter showed no belts and shone
with a pure white color, we could ex-
plain it at once by simply regarding
Jupiter as wholly cloud covered or
snow-covered, for snow and cloud shine
with nearly equal lustre when similarly
illuminated. But the great dark belts
which occupy so large q proportion of
the planets disc altogether negative
this supposition. We seem compelled
to believe that some considerable por-
tion of the planets lustre is inherent.
And, after all, let us remember that
the theory that Jupiter is an intensely
heated globe-a theory to which We
have been led by the consideration of
many observed facts and which in its
turn suggests very satisfactory expla-
nations of other observed facts-would
merely show that, as Jupiter and
Saturn hold an intermediates position
between the sun and tho minor planets
in respect of size, so those giant orbs
hold q corresponding position in re-
spect to inherent heat. Roughly speak
ing. the earth is 5000 miles, the sun
846, 900 miles in diameter, and Jupiter,
with his $4,000 miles, comes midway
between these orbs. Now, the sun is
at q white heat, and the earth gives out
only what is called obscure heat, and
if Jupiter's globe is at red heat, he
again comes midway between the sun
and the earth.
We should be led by the theory here
maintained to regard the major
planets which travel outside the
zone of asteroids as in o sense secondary
suns. So viewed, they could not be
regarded as orbs tit for the support of
living creatures. Yet, as each OF them
is center of q scheme of dependent
worlds, of dimensions large enough to
supply room for many millions OF liv-
ing creatures, we should not merely
find a raison d. etre for the outer plan
cts, but we would be better able to ex-
plain their purpose in the scheme of
creation than on any theory here
tofore put forward respect
ing them. Jupiter as an abode
of life is a source of wonder and per
plexity, and his satellites seem scarcely
to serve any useful purpose. He ap-
pears as bleak and desolate dwelling
place, and they together supply him
with scarcely twentieth part of the
light which we receive from our moon
at full. But regarding Jupiter as a
miniature sun, not indeed possessing
any large degree OF inherent lustre,
but emitting considerable quantity Of
heat, we recognize in him the fitting
ruler of scheme of subordinate orbs,
whose inhabitants would require the
heat which he affords to exc out the
small supply which they receive direct
~ from the sun.-Ihe C0r,ehiN MaQz-
zine.
A Gang Of Smmsglers Broken Up.
p0n0 IF SIN II n001ora who hovo hoon