Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-06-25
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JUPITER MINIATURE SUN.-NOw heat is
the only form of force which could account for
the formation of the enormous masses of cloud
suspended in the atmosphere of Jupiter And
1t seems difficult TO conceive that the clouds
could be maintained at great height above the
real surface of the planet unless that surface
were intensely hot-as bot perhaps as red-hot
iron. If we supposed this to be the case we
should find at once an explanation of the rudy
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 planets equatorial zone, or,
having formed, had beeu dispersed in some
way. We need not even imagine complete dis
persion, since the best telescopes and notably
Mr.. Buckingham's fine twenty-one inch refrac-
tor, have shown always a multitude of minute
cloud-like objects over the ruddy equatorial zone
But the idea of Ted-hot planet, or of a
planet partially red-hot, will appear at a first
view too bizarre to be entertained even for
moment. We have been so accustomed to re.
gard Jupiter and Saturn as other worlds, that
the mind is disposed to reject the conception
that they can 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 reprehended, since it pre-
vents the mind from forming rash and baseless
speculations. Yet we must not suffer this men,
tai habitude, excellent though it NAV be in its
proper place, to interfere with the admission of
conclusions which seem based on Trustworthy
evidence 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 an agreement with other facts not vet
considered.
1t will be obvious that if the real globe of
Jupiter is thus intensely heated, a portion of
the planets light must be inherent, Therefore
we might expect that the planet would shine
somewhat more brightly than globe of equal
size and similarly placed, shining merely by re-
tiecting the suns light. Now two series of good
observations have been made upon the luminos-
ity of Jupiter. One was made by the late Prof.
Bond of America, the other bv Dr. Zollner of
Germany According to the former, Jupiter
shines more brightly than he would if he reflect
ed the whole of the light falling upon him. Ac-
cording TO the latter, and more Trustworthy Sc
res, Jupiter does not indeed shine quite so
brightly as Prot. Bond supposed, but the planet
yet shines three times as brightly as n globe of
equal size would shine, if similarly placed, but
constituted like Mars, and four times as brightly
as such 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 cloudsl
This result is highly significant. If JUPITER
showed no belts and shone with a pure white
color, we could explain it at once by simply re.
gardng 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
a proportion Of the planets disc altogether neg.
alive this suppostion. We seem compelled 70
believe that some considerable portion 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 consid-
Grafton of many observed facts, and which in
its turn suggests very satisfactory explanations
of other observed facts-would merely show
that, as Jupiter and Saturn hold an intermedi-
ate position between the sun and The minor
planets In respect OF size, SO those giant Orbs
hold corresponding position in respect of in
herent heat Roughly speaking the earth is
about 5000 miles, the sun $4,000 miles in diam.
eter, and Jupiter with his diameter of so 900
miles comes midway between these two orbs
Now, the sun is at white heat, and the earth
gives out only what is called obscure heat and
II Jupiter's globe is at a red heat, he again
comes midway between the sun and the
| earth.
We should be led by the theory here main.
tanned TO regard the major planets, which travel
outside the zone Of asteroids, as in a sense sec.
ond suns. SO viewed, they could not be regard
" as orbs 1T for the support of living creatures
iet as each of them is a centre of n scheme ol
dependent worlds, Of dimensions large enouqh
~ suppy room for many millions of liyinp
cdehiuisai we should not merely find a r1tsoU
ueue Ior lne outer plants, but we should
ve oeter ao'c 10 explain their purpose in
| the scDeme OF creation than on amy tho
DRY hitherto put forward resnecting ,ha,',
Jupiter, as an abode of life 4 q so,,, sae' -
wonder and perplexity, and his satellites seo,,
scarcely to serve any useful purpose He on
pears as bleak and desolate dwelliua.nlsee
and they together supply him with scarcely
twentieth part Of the light which we receiy
from our moonat full But regarding Juoite
as miniature sun, not indeed possessing an
large degree Of inherent lustre, but emitting
considerable quantity Of heat, we recognize /
him the fitting ruler of a scheme of subordina
orbs, whose inhabitants would require the hei
which he affords TO exc out the small suppl
C0r1,hW Magazine.
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