Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1873-07-03

The next body of which we nave SOM
definite knowledge is the planet Mais .
Although he is at several huhdieo .iins'
greater distance from us than the ihoon'
we can observe his atmosphere oiouus'
changes of seasons in his two hehlsP 90 %
by the periodical increase ana uecI oaao "
the ice belt around his poles. IN iaI',
there is no heavenly body IN WHICH NV
conditions are SO similar 10 lilose VI o:i
earth at the present time; but the Piiho c 10
much smaller than our earth, ana Is lui
ther from the warming influence Oh 'ne
sun; therefore the probability is that nc
is farther advanced in the coollng process
and this is confirmed by the closest moo-
ern observations. Clouds and water are
much more scarce there than on our eaIt.i,
and the fate awaiting us, of drying up, OF
vegetation by want of sufficient water, mas
commenced to be realized there on a large
scale. as on our earth it is realized over
limited surfaces. such as the Aslatlc anu
African deserts. e
In order to understand the reason OF
this continual diminution Of the amount
of water on a planet, we have only to con
slider that after every volcanic eruption, oY
the hvdration of the cooled lavas, certain
amount of liquid water is wlthdraWn
from the general provision and solldlhed III
the rock, and that the liquid interior ol
our earth contains enough to absorb many
times all the water of our oceans; as these
extend down scarcely the Onc-thousanulh
part Of the earth's diameter, while only
comparatively thin solid crust covers the
hot interior. These two bodies, the moon
and Mars are thus ahead of the earth IN
history, while the other members OF the
system are behind. Jupiter, by reason OF
his immense size, 900 times that OF the
earth, is not yet cooled below the red heat,
and is surrounded by an atmosphere OF
SuDerheated steam, as we mentioned on
former occasion; Venus by its neighbor-
hood to the sun, being nearly OF the same
size as our earth, is in very much the same
condition as Jupiter, only cooled down
little further, and on the eve Of becoming
fit for vegetable and animal life. OF Mer-
curry, still nearer to the sun, we know
nothing, but the probability is that he is
hotter than Venus, The satellites
of Jupiter have been proved to be darker
than the planet itself, emitting no light OF
their own, as the planet does, ana may
therefore rejoice in the existence OF lie,
if the other complex conditions OF proper
atmosphere water, etc, are favorable; put
this is improbable, as the main planets APP
their satellites. In regard to Saturn, it
appears that this planet is very much in
the same condition as Jupiter, only, on
account of its somewhat small disk and
greater distance from the sun, its cooling
has progressed further, as evidenced by
observations. Uranus and Neptune are
too far off for US to found any conclusions
or observations; while Of the moons Of
all these planets we know nothing, and 1t
is reserved for future astronomers to come
to any positive conclusions in regard to
their conditions.
On the whole, we must recognize that,
in all the discussions in defense of the
plurality Of inhabited worlds, two ele-
ments have been overlooked, time and
space The first is eternal, the latter in
finite; and if even only one inhabitable
world exists at a time, and if each Of their
great number has its turn to become the
scene of life, eternity is long enough to
give such an opportunity to every world
in the infinite universe.-.ScieIltifc inner
5,ry.