The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-04-27


A 81 iikht atill I'M ~ in NV
IWsst, The slsndSf crescent on tho nsW, moon
only . day old, holds In her arms the old
moon with M outline Of remarkable dis-
tinotnesA and the sodiacal Light extends Ii
cone OF pale gold high up toward the zenith.
The stars swarm In the dark dome archinE
above us, q they twinkle and glitter In the
frosty air. The brightest stars, the most So.
perb clusters that spangle the armament.
are included in the grand procession, the
princely jupiter marshaling the host. Ris.
ing from an unbroken surface ofsnow, and
looming up in the blackness Of night with
shostlike indistinctness, the huge telescope
seems to pierce the skies, and dwarf to Lilli-
putian dimensions the observers at is base.
Objectglass, eye piece and other required
sppurtenances are in position, and the great
eye is pointed to the planet Saturn. The
transformation is like vision of fairy land,
The pale star, on which, moment since,
We had looked with the unaided eye is now
creation Of surpassing LONELINESS, the most
charming telescope objec. the heavens re-
veal. Saturn, his rings and his moons are
before us. The disc, golden sphere crossed
BY faint cloud-bands of delicate creamy
tint, the wonderful rings softly grading the
planet, seven of the eight moons, beamins
nom the dark background of the sky, IT,
tan, the largest moon, showing percepti-
BILE disc, make up the shining picture. The
coloring of the pictu Q is exquisite. Til 9
glorious orb, its surface respondent with
liquid gold, is crossed by central band Of
creamy white, and fecked with spots of
delicate prismatic hues, and the rings are
curiously variegated in color, the inner most
being of rich purple. The planet seems
almost to stand upright within the engird.
ling rings, only small portion being visible
beneath them. We are fortunate in seeing
him under very favorable aspect. For his
rings are opening wider, his northern de-
clination Is increasing, and he Is approach
ing perihelion. This condition will culmi-
nate in 1885.
Jupiter is the next object to test the space.
annihilating glass. Though by no means as
magnificent as Saturn, he far exceeds him
IN mass and volume, and, as he is twice as
near, we see him on much larger scale.
The giant OF the system takes on grand pro.
portions, the flood of light irradiating his
| surface brings out every minute detail.
His broad belts are delicious in CO loring,
suftused with pale rose, mottled with soft
gray, purple. brown and delicate green.
We have seen Jupiter when the definition
was much more perfect, but never with the
variety of tint and tone we behold this night:
never before did he seem so near, so grand
in proportions, so symmetrical in equipoise.
His tour satellites are in line on his left
and bear witness to the power of the tele-
scope by presenting discs instead of points.
We find it difficult to decide which of the
two pictures is most beautiful. Saturn Is
most magnificent, more complex more Gu.
rious, but Jupiter is more majestic more
like the greatsun himself.
We have only one more view, and this is
to be the great nebula of Orion. The most
wonderful nebula the northern skies reveal
is before us, filling the field of view, and
suffused with a celestial light suggestive OF
the holy city that had mo need of the sun.
neither of the moon to shine in it, for the
glory Of God did tighten it." The delicacy
of the celestial glow pervading the scene il
beautiful beyond expression. Spiral curves
of nebulous haze fill in the field of WIS.,
ion, the radiating mass being ola delicate
green tint, while dotted over the shadowy
haze, and mingling with it in mysterious
union, are numerous bright stars impart-
Ing an element oflife to the tormless void,
and helping to light up this scene OF indie.
scribable grace and grandeur, which no
pencil may paint, no words describe The
fascinating picture holds US spell-bound.
Imagination seeks in vain to lathom this
mystery of mysteries. this chaotic mass so
beautifully fashioned, this lovely blendir 2
Of tints of gold and delicate green, this flood
of light that started from distant space hun.
dreds of years ago, this spiral form that re-.
veals the quickening pulse of maternal life.
We feel, as we gaze upon the celestial scene,
that we are standing on the threshold of tho
golden portal that separates the earthly
from the heavenly. We have glimpse Of
the glory to be revealed. From Provi.
denee Press report Of trial of the largest
telescope in the world, 1t was built for the
Russia government, and will soon be trans.
ported to its destination in the Pulkows
Observatory, founded by the Gear Nichol IS
and overlooking the city of the czars from,
its lofty position on the Pulkowa Hills, nine
miles south of st. Petersburg.1