The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-08-28
AN ASTRONOMICAL EVENT.
Saturn, with n Neighborlv Turn. Running
Down Toward Our Planet

On the 9Th OF the present month there
was an occultation OF the planet Saturn by the
moon, and unusual Interest was excited among
astronomers by reason OF the beautiful scene
which the telescope revealed on that occasion.
On the 30 Of September there will be another
occultation by the moon early In the N orning.
Yesterday Saturn was In opposition to the sun
that is the sun, the earth, and the planet were
In the same line, the earth occupying the mid
die place. II is somewhat remarkable that the
ocoultation OF tho 9th OF August, and the oppo-
sition which took place last night on Sun
day. aud that the occultation OF the 81 Of next
month will be ALSO on sunday
he use which best-ruay's opposition Will BIO
made to serve IS to test certain conclusions de-
ductd by the French astronomer lruuyelOt In
memoir on the physical aspects Of the planet
saturn. This memoir was published, vita Illus
CONCLUSIONS WAS that the inner margin OF
Sstu n's outer ring has for ever years shown
tagged forms near the handles, which would in-
diolte irregularty OF structure; another IS that
tae thickness Of the whole ring system Is In
ere sing, and that the inner ring Is not entirely
trans aren't, although more nearly So than the
planet Tins system Of rings renders Saturn a
un!qre member oi the planetary family; ana as
modern inyeeti2ationa tend somewhat TO show
that We have IN IL an evidence Of the truth OF
Lipiaee's hypothesis OF the original formation
ca -efui observation Of the latest opposition by
astronomers may he readily appreciated.
estardsy t,s saturn Was on,y nSSqs 200 Io1Coo
Us greatest distance. It. - this difference of
ls3OOO,OOO miles whicn makes the period Of TN
opposition so important TO the star gazers.
saturn Is the oldest Of the worlds that COM
pose the known system OF the universe. lie Is
sixth III the order Of distance from the sun.
Wien viewed through strong te escOpe his
dl-c appears striped with dark belts, which.
rom their parallelism 10 the equator OF the
planet, are believed by some scientists to have
been determined by currents similar To our trade
Winds lie Is attended by eight satellites, VINO
nave been since the beginning OF time punctual
ana regular IN Their attendance. He is changea-
PIE IL CHARACTER and never presents the same ap-
es seaaSnoS tMIee IN succession. For this
apparent eceentticily the astronomers give
distance rom the sun IS 9lOU,UOO miles,
saturn, when 10 opposition to Il, Is distant
iS%WOVD lnlles whtn nearest tho sun, and Nj0,-
UoO,VOJ miles when furtnest from II. As Inc
plane OF his rinRs Is inclined to the ecliptic and
maintains Its paTalelsm during the Tevolutlon
OF The planet. the angle under whIch it Is
presented to the sqn ~ continually changing;
the appearances which II presents to the ealth
are, therefore, also continually changing. The
ring Is visible only when the sun and the earth
nre on the same side Of II. but II becomes inylsi-
BILE when Its plane passes through the centre OF
the earth, as well AS when II passes through the
GENRE OF the sun. On this account, says Sir
John HeTschel, two or three disappearano, Of
the ring may happen In very snort space OF
time. Tue di3appearances take place about
every fifteen years, or half the time of Saturn's
revolution IN his orbit and the two SIDES Of tho
ring have alternately fifteen years OF sunshine
and nfteen years Of darkness.
Saturn rises In opposition when the sun sets.
and may be readily found early In the evening
coming up IN the southeast IL will bo tue
prom nent evening star for some time TO come,
tnd after 10 O'clock, when Jupiter sets, the only
cannot mis- axe Saturn. tie has no bright neigh
bors, and II he had, the lurd, diity yellow llght
that he sheds would alone be sufficient TO mark
him.