Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1886-02-04
Facts A hnnt Planets.


Venus, SO well known to us all as
the Ioveiiest object in the heavens,
the evening and the morning star, re-
sembles closely our own Earth. It's
size is almost the same, its diameter
being z, $3.50 miles: its day is almost
the same length, and its density is
rather less than that of water. It re-
wolves round the Sun at a distance of
60, 600, 600 miles in the space of 224
days. Like Mercury, however, Venus
Is moonless. Passing the Earth in the
meantime, we come to the well-knoWn
red planet Mars. This planet is par
ticularly interesting in many points of
view. Next to Mercury it is the small
est of the four interior planets, it's di-
ameter being only 4, 200 miles, or little
more than half that of the Earth or
Venus. It's distance from the Sun is
141, 900, 900 miles, and it completes its
circuit in 687 days. The length of it's
days does not differ materially from
that of our own. Mars has two moons,
and one of them presents phenomen-
on unique IN the system. No other
moon behaves like this one, for it goes
round Mars about three times every
day; that is to say, it goes faster round
Mars than Mars does on its own axis
Imagine our moon rising and setting
three times every twenty-four hours
Another interesting feature in Mars is
this: we can see through our telescopes
what seems to be confguratjOn of it's
continents and oceans, and also accu-
| mutation of snow at its poles.
81 IA - L
other group of planets-Jupiter,
Saturn, Uranus ard Neptune. These
are distinguished by their enormous
size, immense distance from the Sun,
rapid revolution on their own axes,
and very small density. The change
from Mars to Jupiter is indeed remark
able. The latter planet, familiar to
every observer of the heavens, is in
deed q giant among giants. Ia mass
it is equal to all the other planets put
together, its diameter being 40 less
than $4,000 miles, and it's distance
from the Sun 100000 miles. It
takes 4, 332 days to complete its yearly
revolution. Although of such enor-
nous dimensions, it turns on its own
axis in less than ten hours. From the
small density Q'38 of Jupiter, we
sho aid imagine it to be composed, in
great part at least, of fluid or gaseous
matter not yet cooled sufficiently
to form solid land. From certain
phenomena on its surface it is evident
that it is almost completely enveloped
in clouds, and it is doubtful if we have
ever actually seen the real solid nue.
leus of this planet. Jupiter is attend
ed by four moons, which revolve
round him at various distances. the
study of these bodies is of great inter
est; from watching their movements
we got the first hint of the velocity of
light. Next ia order in our outward
journey comes Saturn. at the distance
of SS4, 000,0 miles from the Sun, and
taking no less that 10.750 days to COM
plete its revolution round that lumin-
airy. This planet, though less than
Jupiter, is still of gigantic dimensions
its diameter being $1,000 miles.
Saturn is the lightest of all planets,
its density being 0 rs, SO that if placed
In huge ocean it would float with
fourth of its bulk above the level of
the water. The most remarkable
thing, however, about this planet is
the system of rings by which it is sur
sounded. What these rings are has
long been puzzle to astronomers, but
the most plausible explanation seems
to be that they are composed of myriad
hosts of small meteoric bodies circulat
ing at some distance round the body
of the planet. Saturn has no less than
eight moons under his control, and If
it has any inhabitants like ourselves
which is not likely, however-the
heavans must be strange sight to
them, with these eight moons and me-
teoric swarms.