Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-11-03
Our Neighbor Worlds.

We now have, between the hours
of six and seven, every clear even
ing an unusually brilliant display
of "neighb0r worlds" hanging as II
were like golden lamps in the blue
dome of the sky. The most con
spicuOus and the nearest is Venus,
well down to the horizon In the
Southwest She is now Ieceding
from the sun, and is consequently
presenting more and more of her
lighted surface to our view, as well
~ lessening her distance from us,
In December she will bc very bright
and comparatively near us, making
"A splendid spectacle. Next we have
that ponderous planet Jupiter, fol
lowing close in the wake of Venus,
which, though he has lost much ol
his brlliancy, still holds conspic
uous place in the heavens. Then
comes ruddy Mars, the tabled 'god
of war; fast approaching the me-
ridian from the East, which is east.
~ distinguished from the other
planets 10y It's red aud frey APP
pearance. AT present in conjunc'
zion with Mars (Nov. 81. e., in
the same longitude--is that most
beautiful of all planets, Saturn
Though seeming small aud inslg'
nllicant to the unassiSted eye, when
viewed through telescope, it has
the most magnificent and wonder
FIJI appearance Of any body con.
necled with the Solar system. To
gether these four planets, now
bcaming so softly and mildly upon
us, cannot fail to awaken, even in
the NOSE casual observer, feelings
Of profound interest ; while to those
who have been taught to enter in
to the spirit OF the great stdr-booR
of the skies, they present a truly
sublime aud clevating spectacle.
TO think that they are worlds like
our own, that they are peopled with
intelligent, and accountable beings,
hat they have schools and places
Of worship AZ wedo, though. per
laps, on more extensive scale, is
, beautiful thought; and yet in
Ill probability, it is true. When
we consider their vast proportions.
md the magnificent scale on which
hey are constructed, there can be
10 reason to doubt but that they
ire the abode Of beings, cons titut-
ID similar to ourselves, though
adapted to the planet on which they
i've. Either Jupiter or Saturn is
many hundred times larger than
'ur Earth; Venus, though an infe-
ior planet, is but trille smaller,
md Mars, if not as large as the
Garth, has been favored with tic0
Moons while we have but one. TAX {
n as Il whole, what science have ,
We Of more Importance, and more
worthy Of our attention, than TN II .
t Astronomy 1t is to be lament, ;
Il that there is not more attention !
iven to this study in our schools.
he elements of the science, II prop
lily presented, would be sufficient t
D create u thirst in every bright '
oy and girl, to learn more of this Il
luch neglected branch OF learning. |,
III they want is right start, and -
le subject is so tacinating and al
lring, that there need be no fears
lat they will ever give it up.
Now we hope every boy and girl v
no reads this, will 90 right out o
he first clear night and make "A be- =
:nning in practical Astronomy, by o
out the four planets to |
hich we have referred. ParhapS U
e may be permitted space in these t.
OF these "nesgb Dor I
orlds" during their brilliant dis. C.
ay. A. N. Il. II