The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-04-19
SATURN'S MOVING RINGS,
Professor Keeler'S Discovery
Discussed by a Local
Astronomer.
WHAT MISS 0'HALLoRAN SAYS.
The Rings Said to Be Composed
Of Numberless Small Bodies
or Satellites.

The recent alleged astronomical discov-
cries of Professor James e. Keller OF Allie
gheny Observatory, relative to Saturn s
rings, have given rise to considerable dis
cussion among the local astronomers and
dilettanti in the science.
Professor Keller claims to have discov-
cred that the rings of Saturn are made up
of innumerable small bodies or satellites,
and that there is marked difference IN
the rate of speed in which they reyolve
about the Saturnian planet. number OF
photographs have been taken by the pro-
lessor, and he finds that the inner edge OF
the rings moves faster than the outer edge,
which it must if the rings are made up OF
the smaller bodies, as claimed.
The motions of the different parts of the
rings in miles per second will be ascer-
tanned when the photographs have been
accurately measured under a microscope.
Concerning the discovery which Pro-
lessor Keller claims to have made Miss
Rose O'Halloran of 1923 Pine street says:
The only heavenly body in the universe
known to possess system OF rings Is tne piainsI
lions of Professor Keller of the observatory OF
Allegheny, Pa, give very important corropo-
ration OF theory fay0rably received 1uri ing
unique appendage is composed OF swarm OF
small bodies moving in one plane, put WIN
rates of motion decreasing as the distance from
the planet in accordance with the laws OF
gravitation.
The structure of these rings has been an
enigma to astronomers since they were dlScov-
cred in 1910 by means of the telescope. hen
the cause OF their changing aspects had Deen
unraveled by Huyghens in 1000, II was gen
orally supposed that the luminous appendage
was solid mass.
Even Herschel inclined to this view, but La
place demonstrated that the force OF gravlta-
ton would render it impossible for q SOLID ring
to keep its place unchanged at distance from
the surface of the central body. The sugges-
ton of Cassini, in 1715, that the rings might
be formed of myriads of small meteors moving
independently around as swarm OF satellites
would necessarily move, received little atten-
ton until it was again revived by the Amerl-
can astronomer Bond in 1850.
An encircling luminosity OF huld nature
was also suggested, and Professor Pierce OF
Cambridge, Mass, inclined to this view at one
time, but it was shown by Clerk Maxwell in
1856 that neither solid nor fluid appendage OF
that form could maintain equilibrium, and he
upheld the ignored theory OF Cassini, which
has been now regarded with favor for nearly
forty years, though not considered as fully
proved. The great modern telescopes left the
matter still unsettled. Science is then indebted
to the combined results OF the spectroscope and
the Photographic plate in the hands OF the
skilled observer who was for years in charge OF
the spectroscopic work at Mount Hamilton for
confederation of the received theory.
The prism of the spectroscope causes dis.
persion of the component colors OF rays OF
light, each component being refraeted at a
slightly different angle, so that the angle in
creases gradually from the red end to the violet
end of the spectrum or band OF colors.
study of light in motion has shown that
those receding from the observer are displaced
toward the red end, and those approaching
him are displaced toward the violet end. The
greater the velocity the greater is the displace-
ment.
When the light of the rings of Saturn was
subjected to this test and photograph taken
of the luminous band, the displacements
showed the inner edges moved faster than the
outer edges, W hichi a necessary consequence
of the independent motions of myriads of me-
teors or small satellites, whereas, if the rings
were solid the outer edge would move
faster in order to keep pace with the inner
edge in It's smaller circuit, just as the earth's
equator rotates in q wider circle than the
northerly or southerly ATTITUDES. According
to DR.. Barnard's recent measures OF this ring
system, the outer diameter is 40 seconds of arc
and more than 172, 900 miles.