Cheyenne transporter. [volume] (Darlington, Indian Terr.) 1879-1886, 1884-01-13
Jupiter.


lar system, n planet in comparison
with which the earth is as a crabappl,
to pumpkin, is just now the most con
spicuous celestial object after the sun
and moon. Venus is brighter, but
she sets SO early that her big brother
practically has the field to himself, and
me shines among the lesser lights OF the
ornament like an aderman's diamond
at u ball. Jupiter is wei up in the
southeastern heavens by 9 o'clock, and
to find him it is only necessary to look
for the brightest star then visible. His
hight is yellowish and steady, while
Sirius, the only star which could be
mistaken for Jupiter, on account of its
brllliancy, shines with dazzling white
light, in which shifting rainbow hues
may at times be seen. 1t is the steadi-
ness OF Jupiter's light which reveals at
ence to the practiced eye his planetary
nature. Turn n spectroscope upon
him, and Immediately the familiar lines
which characterize sunlight are seen.
1t is thought calculated to give a
vivid conception of the magnificent
scale on which the solar system is con-
structed, that, although between 400,
O0O, 900 aud 500 00J 600 miles from the
earth, Jupiter is SO brilliantly illumi-
mated 10y the sun that he shines like a
star in the depths of space.
But it is when viewed with a good
telescope that Jupiter is most interest
ing, and just now he is not only well
situated Tor telescope study, but is un-
dergoing wonderful physical changes
which manifest themselves in the APP
pearance Of his surface. The great red
spot has faded into grayish spot
which is only visible ut times, and
which is surrounded by peculiar
auroola This wonderful spot, which
suddenly appeared in 1878 like u conti-
nent of red hot rock thrust up through
the ocean of dense vapors surrounding
the giant planet, began 10 loose it,
fiery color year ago, and vel
seemed to be drawn over it which grew
thicker until only glimpses of the REQ
color could be caught shining dimly as
if through q superintendent mass OF
vapor. Even yet perseverlng ob
servers, armed with large telescopes
report that the fading red spot can oc
casionally be seen; and small teles
cope will show plainly the singular ia
dentations in the great south belt &
: Jupiter, opposite the place where th'
red spot was. An idea OF the extensive
scale Of nature's operations on JCpite
may be formed from the fact that tn
red spot was no less than $4,000 mile
long AID 5000 or 1000 miles broad
{ II has been thought very wonderful
Q thin that q small island sank ont O
3 sight during the volcanic disturbanc
t in Java last August; but If twO-third
1 ot the whole area of the United State
r should sink into the bowels of tn
t earth, the surface change would b
g comparatively no greater than tha
c wrought by tne Disappearance of tn
/ red spot ON Jupiter. The belts {
a Jupiter have of late been changing nc
g only in color, but in form, numbe
l. and arrangement, and their varyin
Il aspects furnish an endless source of Ii
q tereSt to the student with telescop'
l. Other phenomena of Jupiter's sy'
r tenn which can now be well observe
Vi are the trausits of his moons across b
e disk. The observer sees one of the il
s. tie moons approaching the plane
+. Long before il reaches 1T lOuud blaC
B. spot appears upon the edge OF tf
he shining disk and advances slowly aero
9r it. This is the shadow Of the sateillt
and by fixing the position of the sun
his mind the observer will perez We thi
r. n straight line drawn from the blat
1t spot ON Jupiter through the little mos
he would lust hit the sun; consequent
ng wherever that black spot appears {
ia Jupiter the sun is eclipsed. After
e. time he will see the satellite itself pa
he across Jupiter disk as a round, lig
he gray spot, beautifully contrasted wi
he il Jet black shadow. As Jupiter h
4 IL AlnrlI fi