The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1880-09-24
" The Giant Planet"
81, Louis Republican,


Between eight and nine o'clock every
clear evening there may now be seen little
north OF east, q large and brilliant star,
which, familiar rs 1t is TO all who scan the
heavana. IL always q wonder and admira-
ton. 1t has received and we'll deserves the
namo OF the giant planet !" in mass ex-
ceeding very considerably that Of all othe r
planets In our system combined. A few
facts in regard to this celestial wanderer-
drawn from the latest and best astronomi-
cal arthorities-may be interesting to our
readers; though to the scientific portion
they will, Of course lack the element of
novelty.
z Jupiter exceeds the earth In volume
about thirteen hundred times; In n, ISIS
about two hundred and thirteen times.
This shows that his specific gravity is much
less than that Of the earth less, indeed,
than that Of water. His mean diameter is
about 81, 200 miles; but in consequence of
rapid rotation on his axis, the equatorial
exceeds the polar diameter by 5000 miles.
His mean distance from the sun. is 4s0 DOe.-
600 miles-that Of the earth is about o.
81 OK, 0O0-but the eocentricityr Of bis orbit
makes the actual distance range between
$4,000, 900 and sos, OO0,0 900. The Jovian
year, or period Of revolution around tho
sun, is fifty days less than twelve OF our
years. The Jovian day liz about nine hours
and 65A minutes. Telescope examination
shows two bands, or belts. stretching
across the disc Of the planet, one light and
the other dark. They are Of avery oom-
plex character and undergo frequent
changes, seldom presenting the Same ap-
vearance on two successive nights. In fact
they may be considered as one belt or band
and are supposed to be vsporous or cloud
like formations produs cd by causes not yet
thoroughly understood. tits believed by
these most competent to express an opin-
ion on tho difficult subject that Jupiter is
not ret covered with d solid crust like that
on which We live, but In In liquid or gas
eous condition, q our earth once was. It
seems certain that the interior has an ex-
oeedipgly high temperature. almost as great
as that Of the sun. In no other way can |
therapid changes on tho surface be 40
counted for. IL Ia also strongly suspected |
that Jupiter shines partly throug b bis own
light, though what proportion Of the light |
10 original and how much Is borrowed from |
the sun Ia not yet aso strained and probably
never will be.
"The giant planet" Ia attended by four
satellites, tor moons, whose diameters---as
nearly ~ they can be estimat ID range be-
tween 2,200 and 3,70O miles. The diane
tor Of our moon ID Q. 100 miles. These sat
elites are specially interesting to nonscisn-
tific people on account Of their association
with Calico. Il They were. among the. ear
lest discoveries Of that great. and sorely per
scented astronomer, having been found BY
him with bis frst rude telescope. Some of
tiien Ut least can b. seen when the atmos-
phere ID clear. by the and OF good opera
glass; and 1t Is claimed that exceptionally
strong eyes have seen them without assist
snce. Galileo's discovery was received
with incrodulous soorn By the scientists of
that day. One OF them, named Clayius, in
sisted that IL was N optical delusion. He,
however. looked and vas ceavinced. A
moro -obstinate philosopher declined 10 use
The telescope least he should be convinced,
md died an uubelisver. Il When Calico
heard Of his death hs quietly remarked,
hope he raw them while on his wayI
. heaven." a-b03 T99G
The ssteiites are too small and too dis !
antfor accurate examination Of their sur
acos, nor can their sudden and surprising .
'hanges In briiiancy be satisfactorily ex-
'lained. though many ingenious theories
ave bsen propunded. This year Jupiter J,
VII y II Opposition Dot. 2. (Plansts arc :
aud TO b In opposition when their longi- !,
ude din5rv 1902 fIom that Of the sun, 20 !,
hat they rss IT SUNSET and sst 1t SUNRISE I
hiring the next four years he win b in OPP