The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1890-06-26
THE RINGS OF SATURN.
Information About the Mysterious Ap-
pendages of the Great Planet.


The chief interest in Saturn centerS
upon its mysterious ring, or rather
rings, for large telescope shows that
there are several of them lying one
within another. Indeed, the exact
number of these rings is still point of
discussion among astronomers. A main
division, known from it's discoverer as
/ ''Cassindi's division" has long been
known to exist, and may be seen, in
deed, with telescope of quite moderate
| power. But beside this division the ex-
istence of others has been announced
| from time to time. One of these, known
as "Encke's division" separating the
outer ring into two, is represented on
most of the drawings of Saturn; but in
recent times its existence has repeatedly
been called in question.
Observers using the finest instru-
ments have declared their inability to
see it, and it has been omitted from
some of the more recent drawings. Bond
on the other hand, in drawing made
from observations with the fine Cam
bridge telescope, depicted not only
Encke's division, but number of 9th
ers, which no other observer has been
able to see; and a new division is an
nounced to have been discovered with
the Lick telescope. The most plausible
explanation of this discrepancy in the
testimony of so many reputable wit
nesseS is, that these minor divisions are
not permanent features of the ring, but
are temporary and shifting in their
nature, for it is now generally con-
ceded, as the only admissible theory,
that this strange appendage of Saturn,
solid as it looks through telescope, is
really but "a dense mass of meteor-ike
bodies, each of which revolve, as a
minute satellite, on its orbit about the
planet.
Besides this double or multiple bright
ing, which has been known since the
time of Calico, it's discoverer, recent
drawings of Saturn show third and in
terror ring, always represented as faint
as possible, but never sufficiently faint,
which is known as the scrape'' or
''gauze' ring. The discovery of this
feature of Saturn is one of the most in
teresting and, on some accounts, the
most remarkable, discovery which has
been made of late years with the tele-
scope. 1t was made Independently in
1880 by the Bonds, at the Cambridge
Observatory, and by the Rev. Mr. Dawes
In England. 1t is curious fact that,
although to detect this object in the
first instance required telescopes of the
first order, it has ever since been visible
with instruments of quite moderate
power, illustrating how easy it is to
miss OF seeing a faint object which is
really quite perceptible when one knows
Of its existence. The Bonds examined
this suspected object on several sue
,essive nights before they felt confident
Of their discovery, yet a good six-inch
telescope will at times show it distinct
", as the writer can himself testify. It
is thought by some astronomers that,
although this inner ring is probably not
an altogether new feature of Saturn, for
there is some evidence that it was seen
by Herschel, who, however, failed to de-
tectits true character-it is increasingin
brilliancy, as if it were receiving new
material by gradual subsistence upon
it of matter from the external rings.
Indeed, Prof. Struye has expressed the
opinion, based upon careful examine
ton of the measurements and drawings
Of Saturn made by the older astronom-
9rs, that the whole system of the rings
has undergone perceptible change
within the period of telescope observa-
hons, and that their margin is now
nearer than formerly to the planet. The
public has waited impatiently for the as
tonishing discoveries which it was ex-
pected would be made by the monster
Lick telescope when turned upon the
moon and the planets. This fine instru-
ment has had so many demands made
upon it that it seems thus far to have
been used upon these objects only in
desultory way. Still it has been used
in at least one instance as check upon
observations made with less powerful
instruments. Not long since the an
nouncement came across from Germany
that a certain remarkable white spot
had been discovered upon the ring of
Saturn indicating that some change,
which would not fail to be of great In
terest, was taking place. Several as
tronomers hastened to confirm the dis
covery. But when the Lick telescope
was turned upon the planet nothing of
the sort could be seen; and vet this
powerful instrument showed other de-
tails that no other telescope could de
feet t-Philadelnbia praeo