, 1873-07-27
COL0RS OF THE PLANETS.

by tho nhkou oye, soon through tho tclesoopc, or
examined by tho BpoctroHcopo.
Tho most familiar md accosalble fold Of ro-
soarol Is found in tho colors which tho planets
exhibit to tho naked eye. Each Of tho five viBi-
bio plnnets has an individuality as characteristic
as that which distinguishes tho monbora Of tho
snmo family, and this difference depends largely
OH popularity of coloring. Jupiter, tho ginnt
Of tho solar family, is classod as white star,
although to Our vision, thoro ia yellow
tinge blended with tho wltoneBH. Whom
shining In full glory on the dirk back
ground Of tho midnight sky, IL is impossible to
mistake him for any othor star in tho flrmamont,
When ho Ia morning or evening star he Is aomo-
timoa tnkon for Vonus. But careful attention
will oasly dotoct tho difference, for VonuB Ia tho
moro brllliant, wllilo tho tint Of hor light is q
much softer and more creamy white. Thoro ia
III indeHoribablo lovslinosB about this plnnot
which belongs to no othor object In tho hoavons,
and which Is largely duo to tho hoan,ing color
which sho reflects. Mercury ia also whito
planet, but differing entirely from each Of tho
others. His nearnoss to tho sun gives him q
peculiar sparkling hue, which can novor bo for
cotton by those who have boon fortunate enough
to catch Wow OF the shy planet. Hs ia Home-
times callod tho "Sparklor" from this ctrcum-
stance.
Is red star, and WAS called tho Fiory Ono" by
tho Grooks on account of lia r1lddy light. Ii
anciout times his appearance was looked upon as
tho barbiagor OF war. This planet has lost a
portion Of hls deop-red color, and tho cauao Of
tho change has long bcen subject OF diaouH-
sion. It is now ascribed to certain changes tax
ing place in tho color Of tho constituents.
SATURN
shines With dull ycllow color. This, with his
slow movement and dismal hue, accounts for tho
unlucly influence Ascribad to him by aatrologistB
THUS We have sparkling white cronmy white,
goldon white, dcop red, and dull yollow for col
ors Of the yBible planets, and, nItor little Oh
color 1t reflects.
But tho telescope reveals in some Of tho
planets poculfaritios of color which aro fonnd
1T nothing olse in tho heavens. They arc tho
only objects which aro nctual]y variegatod, for
Clouds tints Of almost ovory imaginable color.
But tho observation OF tho remarkable phe-
nomona ia comparatively rocent., Such ia tho
distance separating ua from these outer worlds,
mud such tho delicaoy Of tho coloring, tint it
requires the most favorable atmospheric condf-
tions aud tho post thorough familiarity with
astronomy to rsaoh results in tho least dcgroo
satisfactory.
arc now 30 near to tho sun that it Is almost I'M
possible to obtain trustworthy results regarding
tho color of their Burfacoe-indoed II Ia proba-
bio that they arc NevGr seen. But when We
0esVu Fttbsa1 suo pouAnAE9 u inc GhFINH Cr0lt,
VIC enter upon more satisfactory field Of OBJ
Borvation. Mars, our ne1t neighbor, ranks first
among tho planets for tho dssinctness and
variety Of tito colors ho proaonta Two white
his ce-bound poloB. A delicate tinted borlor
oi white light surrounds tho polar zones. Somo-
times greensh tint OF exquisite de1icacy is
mingled with tho wlito and supposed to bo duo
to cumuluB clouds floating in his atmosphere.
Tho body Of tho planet next appears, with tho
prevniling rcd or ocresh tint, giving the deep
red color 10 familiar to observers. Wo can also
dotect occasional spots Of ealmon-colorod light,
browniBh patches, md ovcn black spots. proba-
bly, marking tho lands aud continents. Then
wo Boe covering about tho same portion Of tho
disl greon or illdigo-gray portions, forming tho
seas oceans Of tho planet. None OF these spots
arc entirely dirk, but either family tinted, al
most whito, or tinged with purplish hue.
JUPITER,
under powerful telescope, develops narve1-
Gus splendor Of coloring. Tho poles are Of
singularly beautiful color, called by painters
S ro 9aa no the
belts display remarkable gradations Of color.
llcso noarest the poles are Blato-colored;
further: on, tiugo of red minglos with the gray
that is aqceooded by dol'cato chocolate; while.
torial bright zono develop a garnet blendinE
with Tho other hlles. Tho great equatorial bolt
in nearly white, but has. recently presented
unusual variations OF color, changing from
Still moro recently assuming all tho tints Of yell
low from NO!nan orange to yellow lake. Tho
belts vary greatly IN number, form, and oxtont,
while processes Of disturbance are constantly
Euing on. Immense riffs open In tho yaporolB
lrnttor, biack spots como into yiow, and all OBJ
Eervaton aoenB to confirm tho theory Of the
action Of intense heat around the surface Of tho
planet.
presonte q view to tho te1oacopio observer more
clnrming and impressive than that Of Jupiter
His ring syBtom makos him the most interest,"
ing Of tho planots, while hig family OF satol-
lites raiao him to the dignity Of q aun. Ills
family Of Bateltcs is as largo as tho suns fam
lily Of planets, and his ring il now considered to
TO composed of myriads OF minute satellitoB
circing in intotrwiniug orbits around their
mighty primary. The colora observed on Sat-
urn aro as beautiful rs those on tue nearer and
1arger planet, but his greater distance makes
theu appear flint and smooth. instead Of dark
saturns ring is divided by distance Of two
and brighter. Several othor divisions also occur
III the ring system, one Of them dividing tho
outer ring near tho middle, but these divisions
nye not black, neither Is tho great dark division,
f hsls when the sl sad9w Of G planet @
blacknesa Of tho shadow and the merely dirk
thing besides empty spaass ocoupios
the division between the rings. Within the in
which the body Of the planet can be soon pre-
senting the appearance Of a Grape Yelling, but
not hiding the Wow. This portion Of tile ring
system il supposed to consist also Of minute
satellites, more widely separated than they arc
in tho bright rings, md it ia between them TINT
VIC cntoll gmpsos OF tho planot.
At ordinary timos tho only colorA recognized
on Saturn aro the white Of tue cloud xonoa and
coptionally favorable conditions these palo coll
ors change into the most beautiful h,les Mr.