The Democratic advocate., 1873-11-01
COLOR q ths pIanst..

esting subjects for study In three different
departments of astronomical investigation,
either observed BY the naked eye, seen
through the telescope or examined by the
spectroscope,
The most familiar and accessible field Of
research is found in the colors which the
planets exhibit to the naked eye. Each
Of the FIVE visible planets has en- individ,
uality as Characteristic as that which dh-
tinguishes the members Of the same family,
and this difference depends largely on
popularity Of coloring. Jupiter the giant
of the solar family, is classed as white
star, although to our vision there Is yell
low tinge blended with the whiteness
When shining in full glory on the dark
background of the midnight sky, il is i'm
possible to mistake him for any other star
in the armament. Whom he Is morning
or evening star, be Is sometimes mistaken
for Venus. But careful attention win
easily detect the difference; for Venus Is
the more brilliant, while the tint Of her
light is much softer and more creamy
white. There is an understandable lowell
ness about the planet, which belongs to no
other object in the heavens, and which is
largely due 70 the beaming color she re-
fleets. Mercury is also a white planet,
but differing entirely from each Of the
others. His nearness to the sun gives him
a peculiar, sparkling hue, which can nevay
be forgotten by those who have been for
tunate enough to catch view Of the shy
planet. He is sometimes called the
'Sparkler,' from this circumstance
Mars is a red star, and was called the
"Fiery One" by the Greeks on account Of
his ruddy light In ancient times, his
appearance was looked upon as the harbin-
ger Of war This planet has lost portion
of his deep red color, and the cause Of the
change has long been subject Of discus
sion. II is now ascribed 10 certain changes
taking place in the color of the constitu-
ents.
Saturn shines with dull-yellow color.
This, with his slow movement and dismal
hue, accounts for the unlucky influence
ascribed to him by astrologists. Thus we
have sparkling white, creamy white, golden
white, deep red, and dull yellow, for the
colors Of the visible planets; and, after
little observation, it is easy to detect each
planet by the color it rejects.
But the telescope reveals in some Of the
planets peculiarities Of colon which are
found in nothing else in the heavens.
They are the only objects which are ac-
tually yariegated; for they present, side by
side, in belts, bands, and clouds, tints Of
almost every imaginable color But the
observation of the remarkable phenomena
is comparatively recent. Such is the dis
tance separating us from these outer worlds,
and such the delicacy of the coloring, that
it requires the most favorable atmospheric
conditions, and the most thorough famil-
iarity with astronomy to reach results in
the least degree satisfactory.
Mercury and Venus are 50 near the sun
that it is almost impossible to obtain trust
worthy results regarding the color of their
surfaces; indeed, 1t is probable that they
are never seen. But, when we have passed
the boundary Of the earth's orbit, we enter
upon more satisfactory field Of obssrva-
ton. Mars, our next neighbor, ranks first
among the planets for the distinctuess and
variety Of the colors he presents. Two
white spots shine with singular brilliancy,
marking his ice-bound poles. A delicate
ly-tinted border of white light surrounds
the polar zones. Sometimes greenish
tint Of exquisite delicacy Is mingled with
the white, and supposed to be due to cum
ulus clouds floating in his atmosphere.
The body. Of the planet next appears, with
the prevailing red or ochreish tint giving
the deep-red cclor so familiar to observers.
We can also detect occasional spots Of
salmon -colored light, brownish patches, and
even black spots, probably marking the
lands and continents. Then we see, COW
ering about the same portion Of the disk,
green or indigo-gray portions, forming the
seas and oceans Of the planet. None Of
these spots are entirely dark, but either
family tinted almost white, or tinged with
purplish hue.
Jupiter, under powerful telescope, de-
yelops marvellous splendor Of coloring.
The poles are Of singular beautiful color
called by painters ultra-marine-ash: and
the spaces between the dark belts are Of
rich, creamy white. The dark belts dis
play remarkable gradations Of color. Those
nearest the poles arc slate-coIored: farther
on, tinge Of red mingles with the gray !;
this is succeeded BY a delicate chocolate {;
while the belts on either side Of the eeua-
torial bright zone develop garnet blend
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