Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-12-19
E'-c Colossus Among Worlds.

F-1Il ths N,y York Srn.
Jupiter. the greatest world in the solar sys-
ten. a planet in comparison with which the
earth is as q crab apple to a pumpkin. is Just
nJw the most conspicuous celestial object after
the SIN ana the moon. Venus is brighter but
she sets 50 early that her big brother practi-
caIly has the field to himself and he shines
among the lesser lights Of the armament like
sn altermans diamond at 4 ball. Jupiter is
well up in the southeastern heavens by 9
o'clock. and to find him it is only necessary 10
look for the brightest star then visible His
ECht IS yel.owish and steady while Sirius. the
Gaiy star which could possibly be mistaken for
Jupiter. OIL account of Its briliiancv shines with
dt,z.liUg waite light in which shifting rain
bow hGes may at times be seen. Ii is the steadi-
less or JUp!ters light which reveals at once to
t2e rFacticed eye his planetary nature Turn a
81 .ctrosc0pe upon him. and Immediately the
id!a.ir lines which characterize sunlight are
seen 1T II Thought calculated to give "a vivid
conception Of the magnificent scale on which
ire solar system Is constructed. that although
t-tWeTn four and five hundred million miles
from the earth. Jupiter is 50 brilliantly Ilumi-
mated by the sun that he shines like star i'm
tie depths of SPACE.
Eat il * when viewed with a good telescope
HAT Jupiter : most interesting. and lust now
he : not only Well situated for telescope study,
but il under going wonderful physical chan yes
which manifest themselves in the appearance
OF his surface The great red spot has faded
INTO g!ayisn spot, which Is ouly visible at
times, and which IS surrounded by a peculiar
aureula This wonderful spot which suddenly
appeared IN 1873 like continent of red-hot
rUck thrust up through the ocean of dense
yapOrS surrounding the giant planet be-
gan TO lose its fiery color wear ago
and veil seemed to be drawn over it which
grew thicker until only glimpses of the red
color could be caught shining dimly as if
ttrpU.rh a m nf
YET prr>eVerinG Observers armed with large
telescopes, report that the fading red spot can
occasionally be seen; and a small telescope will
SHOW plainly the singular indentations in the
great south belt of Jupiter. opposite the place
where the red spot was An idea of the extern
Size scale OF natures operations on jupiter NAV
be formed from the fact that the red spot was
no less than 81 900 miles long and 8 900 OF = 900
broad 1t has been thought a very wonderful
thlng That small island sank out Of Sgiit dur
Ing the volcanic disturbance in Java last August:
bIf ii tW1-third~ 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 10y the disappearance
u the To-! spot on Jupiter. The belts Of Jupiter
nae OF late been changing not only in color
but IN form, number. and arrangement and
tirir var. In- aspects furnish an endless source
o. interest TO the student with a telr-clpe
Other phenomena ct Jupter's system which
ca now be Well observed are the translt- OF his
moons across his disk. The observer sees oae
OF tae niue moons approaching the planet
Long before It Reaches i TOuDd black spot ap-
I'lrS upon tie edge of the shining disk and all
Y;nfeS slowly across il. This il the shadow OF
T." satellite and 10y fixing the position of the
sun IN his mind the observer will perceive
thai 4 ScrIi-,h, line drawn from TIE black spot
On Jupiter through the little moon would
u, Lt tAH sun; consequently whenever
80 '"'tN spot appears on Jupiter the
sun j. e,'pSej. After a time he will see
tEe satellite 'tS-lf pas, across Jupiters disk as a
fohhi AEt-Er1y spot. beautifully contrasted
WIN - jrt-5lack shadow. A. JUPITER has four
moons, and they -eyolve very rapidly around
hiiu' t''-Se r'irl0mHna are Of frequent occur
renee The great planet also rotates So swiftly
on us AXIS that 'iur NJ a single evening the OBJ
server MAJ behold It's huge globe turn half way
round. and II he chooses TO remain at the tele-
scope All n rht, he may witness complete rot
Ton oi Jupiter on its axis SO that a spot on the
planets tuat0r which he saw at 5 o'clock in
the evening viii again be visible In the same
pace al about o'clock in the morning having
III ten hours made a circuit OF go, 900 miles
What tremendous machine is the solar svs.
teml