The White Pine news. [volume] (Treasure City, Nev.) 1868-1906, 1885-10-31
TaE PERIHELIoN OF SATURN.
A Field Day for Astronomers la Trae-
ing the shadOyvy Belt.
From The Scientific American.l

From the Scientific American.
Octsber's starlit sky presents one
nrominent subject for observation and
study in the periheion Of Saturn. The
sun and the most richly gifted of his
sons are at their closest point OF ap-
proach, 1OO, 900, 900 miles spanning the
distance between Saturn's perihelion
andaphelion. Fortunately the earth APP
proachss that point of her orbit where
4 her path lies almost between the sun
aud Saturn, aud she profits largely by
the proximity, for the increased slze
and clear radiance bear testimony To
tue nearer neighborhood of the rings
grdle planet. Ii seems absurd, how
ever, 10 speak of the nearness of an
object whose mean distance from the
sun is oS1.00,000 Ne are al sea aiih
out piiot, 10 seeking to comprehend
dImeLsIons whers Il million mites Is
the measuring unit. But we can see
results in the beauty and brightness
uf planet that fifteen years hence
will snlne with u dull, murky light in
striking contrast with his present
serene aspect.
Asro1omers who make Saturnian
4 Investigation u speciality will improve
ne Present conditions. Ii will not be
unexpected if they find out whether
TIE dArk spaces between the rings are
merely shadings in or between the
myrlad satellites that make them up,
or even ii a ninth moon should be
detected family cleaning among lis
Brethren.
II lwenty>fiye years sxhausts an as
fronomcrs highest power of obscfvas
lion before Saturn returns to perlhelion
IN 1919 observers who are now In their
golden prime will have lost their
power to see clearly, observers who
are JUST entering The Astronomical field
viii rejoice IN the maturity Of visual
strength and observers who are but
children now will become spirants io.
the laurels the heaven bestow on those
who devote their life work to the
studies Of celestial mysteries.
Nearly generation of those who
now tread the earth will sleep peaces
fully IN its bosom, while this wonder
OF the skies traverses the vas. path
tiiat forms his circuit round the sun.
a generation of men lives and dies in
one Saturnlan year.
We'll may 1t be said that the study
Oh astronomy promotes humility,
teaching, as no other science can. the
inslgnlflcanse of humanity.
The perlhelion of Saturn is an i'm
por1ant astronomical event, and has
been anticipated tor years with sagar
interest But why should the nearest
approach OF this planet To the sun be
"l so much consequence to terrestrial
oosefVersf Is question that naturally
arises to thoughtful minds. 1t is bs>
cause when Saturn is nearer to the
eun, ne Is, uuder certain conditions,
nearest to the earth, and the approach
" Pefceptible in his increased size and
srsalsr brilliancy. There are three
conditions that, when united, give the
ocss possible views of Saturn. lie
must be in perlhelion, his rings must
oe open to their widest extent, and he
Ius. oe IN opposition, or Saturn, the
v4r'h aud the sun must be in a straight
~, nus, win the earth in the middle.
i"ess three conditions are nearly
united In the present position of our
magnificent brother In regard to the
.aI'n' lie is in perihslion, his rings
arc arc opened to their widest extent, and
"es within two months of opposition,
well rs in high northern declination
Nearly whole generation will pass
r"s r"sy osfore Saturn will again be seen
uausr Conditions as favorable as those
"', ~ now presents. Instead of a dull,
"urSy, and iIlomsned star, he shines