The sun., 1880-04-04
4 NIaHT AMONo OTHER WORLDS.
wboeyer rends good old Tbonaa Dicl,

view OF forty miles OF hill and valley scenery
along the Tay. must feel desire to follow tho
author In his studies OF the stars. And. indeed.
the amount OF instruction and amusement a
small astronomical telescope is capable OF af-
fordlng cannot be appreciated by the man who
never owned one. Some OF tho most famous
telescopes In existence are owned by English
amateurs, and the uost charming a"scric!!ye
"""Ss .s oon astronomy .avs bcen written by Eng
lishmen who do not pretend to be professional
astronomers. In this country we not only have
purer skies than those OF England. and more
favorable situation in latitude. but some Of our
opticians have astoniahed the scientific men OF
Europe by their achievements in telescope
making. Yet the number OF Americans who
own and use telescopes. outside OF the observa-
tories. is comparatively small.
Among the first objects that the amateur who
has become the possessor OF an astronomical
telescope turns to are the planetstho enrth's
brother and sister worlds. Although 1t is be-
yond expectation that any telescope will ever DO
constructed powerful enough to show us the
possible inhabitants OF any OF the planets. yet
every increase OF telescopic power reveals new
features. and such discovery al that Of tho OK
istence OF continents. oceans. and snow fields
In Mars-the correctness OF which may be tested
by any one who has a good telescope OF three or
four inches aperture-is enough to stir the
imaginations OF the most Indifferent
Tho first OF the planets that tho young tels-
scopist tries. and. with the possible exception
OF Venus. tho best known OF them. is Jupiter.
the giant OF the family. To the unassisted eye
this planet. which is /, 800 times as bulky as the
earth. appears rs very bright star OF slightly
yeliowlsh hue. and OF pretty steady light His
four moons can be seen with nrst-rats SPY
glass. but not to advantage. To SEQ Jupiter and
his moons well. a power OF not less than fifty
oameters should be employed on a three-inch
telescope. Such power gives beautiful view
OF the planet and the four satellites. all in one
field. The difference In the size and color OF
the moons can be perceived with careful watch
ing. and the startling phenomenon OF the sud
don extinguishment OF the moons as they pass
into the great contcal shadow the planet throws
out into space behind him 10 distinctly seen.
When maRnifed fifty times. by which 10 meant
fifty diameters. or $500 times specifically.
Jupiter appears larger than tho full moon does
to the naked eye.
Tho famous belts can be seen with such a
power. but to reveal their details power OF
at least $50 or 200 should be used. Then tho
two great equatorial belts may be seen. stretch
ing with broken edges and many riffs across
the disk; and the narrower bslts and zones Of
shade near the poles. the regions OF varying
colors. and any large spots that may be present.
are clearly revealed The most beautiful phe-
nomena. however. are the transits OF the moons
and their shadows across the broad, yellow disk
OF the planet. These are OF frequent occur
renee and oan be well soen with n three-inch
glass OF good construction. Every time that
one of the moons in it's circuit about the planet
comes between the sun and Jupiter Its shadow
con be seen upon the disk like round ink spot.
the m DON itself may be seen against the bright
background OF the disk. In certain situations
the shadow OF the moon is thrown forward. so
that it may be clearly seen far advanced upon
the disk while thA moon is yet shining against
the clear sky. Hundreds OF other interesting
observations may be made upon this planet
with small telescopes.
as telescope object than JUPITER His vast
rings are unlike any other known object IN the
heavens, When the observer for the first time
turns his telescope upon the dull, medium
naked eye, and beholds q golden ball suspended
rings that. 1t is easily seen, are com pletely
arated both from the planet and from each other.
ment. The pictures Of this wonderful planet in
books OF astronomy give no adequate idea OF
his marvellous beauty when viewed through a
Just show the existence, Of the rings. but powers
Of $50 to 400 are needed TO bring out clearly
U
strange dark. or gauze. ring within the two
bright ones is not easily seen with small tso-
ssoprs ,t good thrssHSh eIass the black ,s
rings back OF the planet, and close inspection
reveals the narrow line OF shade that the rings
inRs on the planet that form test both OF the
powers Of the telescope and OF the eye; Saturn
throneins W Ike golden bees about the he rings. i
sas. s- tan uS 0sR G chs which Is 9
larfr aV.ln mot Mara ha until
much smaller glass. For the next four or five
years years the rings % VII! slowly open n wlder aud
Venus, which shines as the most brilliant
object. The orbit Of Venus; unlike that q
and consequently she is never seen except in
the wost after sunset, or in the east before
earth Venus TO- often SO bright as to be visible
at MONDAY; Then a power OF twenty-five
Sys s 81 as sr %
Times larger. and more brilliant thar han
through M ''S her orbit Venus Presents pre- s'SiHa IL
succession all the phases Of the moon. she
are baified in the attempt to study her features
Schr0ter, a famous German observer thought
no had discovered mountains in Venus nearly
thirty miles high. Astronomers are generally
agreed that Venus closely resembles the earth
in physical condition, enjoying the same change
shine. and that H. az seams highly probable.
she is inhabited. the Inhabitants are very like
ourselves.
Mercury. which 10 yet nearer the sun than
Venus is, on that account difficult to find except
at certain favorable periods. He shows the
same phases as Venus on smaller scale. Very
high mountains. it is believed. have also been
soen in Mercury. II he has inhabitants ii has
been conjoctured that, on account OF their proX-
unity TO tho SUM- they must possess the heat
enduring powers OF salamanders.
Mars, which is the next planet outside the
earth. is. in some respects the most interesting
OF all. 1t does not require very large telescope
10 show the contineutS and oceans that varle-
gate his sur face and tho patches OF snow about
his poles which WAX and wape with the seasons
With the aid OF a map of Mars the possessor OF
good telescope may spend many hours in the
delightful task of locating tho lands and seas OF
this distant planet. which 1t does not require
great stretch OF the imagination to picture
dotted with cities and fleets. II should be said
that some astronomers, arguing from MarsS
distance from the sun and his supposed great
planetary age. say that hts inhabitants. il any
are left must be beings inferior 10 ourselves. A
power Of 100 on a three-inch telescope will
show Mars's polar snow caps. With power
OF $50 or 800. the principal lands and sens may
be Identified in good weather. and when the
planet is fnvOrably situated in his orbit. Vast
masses of clouds are sometimes seen obscurng
the "details Of the disk. and hiding whole conti-
nents. As the continents OF the earth would he
hidden, during long-continmed and widespread
rains. from an observer Oh Mars. Tho remark
able ruddy color OF Mars has been referred by