The sun., 1883-12-16
THE COLOSSUS AMOS0 WORLDS.


Jupiter tho greatest world In tho solar
system. n planet iD comparison with which the
earth Is as q crab apple to n pumpkin, Is just
now the most conspicuous celestial object alter
the eur and the moon. Venus Is brighter. but
she sets 80 early that her big brother prncti-
caily has the field to himself and he shines
among the lesser lights OF the armament like
an Alderman's diamond at u ball. Jupiter is
we'll up in the southeastern heavens by 3
o'clock. and to find him II s only necessary TO
look for tho brightest star then visible. His
light is yellowish and steady. while Sirius. the
only star which could possibly be mistaken for
Jupiter. on account Of its brilliancy. shines
with dazzling white light. In which shifting
rainbow hues may at times be seen. 1t Is the
steadiness OF Jupiters light which reveals at
once TO the practised eye his planetary nature.
Turn spectroscope upon him. and immedi.
ately tho familiar lines which characterize sun
light are seen. 1t is n thought calculated to
give vivid conception of the magnificent scale
on which the solar system Is constructed. that.
although between four hundred and five hum
dred million miles from tho earth Jupiter is so
brilliantly Illuminated by the sun that he shines
like a star in the depths OF space.
But it is when viewed with good telescope
that Jupiter is most interesting. and just now
he is not only we'll situated for telescope study.
but is undergoing wonderful physical changes
which manifest themselves in tho appearance
OF his surface. The great rod spot has faded
into a grayish SPOT which is only visible at
times. and which is surrounded bya peculiar
aurcoa This wonderful spot. which suddenly
appeared in 1873 like continent of red hot
rock thrust up through tho ocean OF dense va
pors surrounding the giant planet. began to
lose its fiery color year ago. and veil seemed
to be drawn over it which grew thicker until
only plimnSpE Of the red color po,ll1 ba
caught shining dimly as II through
n superintendent mass OF vapor Even
yet perscvering observers. armed with large
telescopes. report that the fading rod spot can
occasionally be seen: and small telescope will
show plainly the singular indentations in the
great south bolt OF Jupiter. opposite the place
where tho red spot was. An idea Of the exten-
sive scale OF natures operations on Jupiter
may be formed from the fact that the red spot
was no less than 10000 miles long and 6 900 or
1000 broad 1t has been thought a very won
derful thing that a small island sank out OF
sight during the volcanic disturbance in Java
last August; but If two-thirds of the whole
area Of the United States should sink into the
bowels OF the earth the surface change would
be comparatively no greater than that wrought
by the disappearance OF the red spot on Jupiter.
The belts Of Jupiter have of late been changing
not only in color, but in form, number and
arrangement. and their varying aspects fur
nish an endless source of interest to tho stu
don't with q telescope.
Other phenomena OF Jupiter's system which
can now be we'll observed are the transits Of
his moons across his disk. The observer sees
one OF tho little moons approaching the planet.
Long before it reaches it a round black spot
appears upon the edge of the shining disk and
advances slowly across it. This is the shadow
| OF the satellite. and by fixing the position of
the sun in his mind the observer vii! perceive
| that II straight line drawn from the black spot
| on Jupiter through the little moon would Just
| hit the sun; consequently wherever that
| black spot appears on Jupiter the sun
| is ecipsed. After time he will SEQ
| tho satellite itself pass across Jupitcr's disk
as round light-gray spot, beautifully
| contrasted with its jet-buck shadow. AS
| Jupiter has four moons. and they revove very
rapidly around him. these phenomena are of
frequent occurrence. The great planet also
rotates so swiftly on its axis that during a
| single evening the observer may behold its
| huge globe turn half way round. and. il he
chooses to remain nt the telescope all night ho
may witness Il complete rotation Of Jupiter on
| its axis. so that IA spot on tho planets equator
| again be visible in the same place at about 6
| O'Clock in the morning. having in ten hours
mads circuit OF 100000 miles!
| What a tremendous machine is the solar
| system,