Omaha daily bee., 1896-05-17

two nearly equal portions. 1t is generally
best seen at the eXtremities most remote
from the planet. Evidently In this case
there is not a complete division through the
substance Of the ring. There can also be 10
doubt that under circumstances exceptionally
favorable for observation, many other divi-
sions are to be discerned in both rings be-
sides those more prominent ones which we
have here mentioned. In fact, glimpses of
Saturn have been occasionally obtained which
seem to show the rings divided into a series
Of ribbons of bright material separated by
narrow, dark lanes. No doubt such a theory
OF ring formation can hardly be regarded as
thoroughly we'll established; at the same
time 1t must be observed that what we GER
tainly know as to the structure of the ring,
and this is a point which will be dealt with
presently, leads us to the belief that some
such subdivision OF the broad, fiat rings into
multitudes of narrow concentric rings is cer-
tainly possible.
One reason why our knowledge of the
features OF Saturn and its rings has been
gathered In SO slowly is connected with the
long period required by this planet to &C
complish a revolution around the sun.
Saturn takes no less than thirty years for
each of these great journeys. AS there are
only particular parts Of its orbit in which
certain of the phenomena can be studied to ad-
vantage it necessarily follows that much
time may often have to elapse in the COM
plete calculation Of any particular point.
ihuS w IlSNduNS III tic uutslluH VI NlSl-
bility through the dark lines there is a GER
tain position In which the planet Is some
times placed which might throw much light
on the matter. 1t will occasionally happen In
the course of Saturn's movement around the
sun that the plane OF the ring passes between
the earth and the sun. In such a case 1t
would not be the sun-illumed side which
would then be turned toward the earth, as Is
generally the case. The face on which the
sun does not shine would be that which was
than axnOAad To our ingnaptiOu Slch an na-
would afford a very interesting OBJ
ject for those who are provided with good
telescopes. So slowly does the planet move,
however. that we must wait until the year
1907 before the necessary opportunity arises.
THE GRAPE RING.
A very remarkable extension was given 10
our knowledge Of the planet in 1850. Up to
that time II had been supposed that the
hinged system consisted simply OF the two
well known bright objects divided by the
conspicuous line OF Cassini. But In the year
we have named, Prof. Bond, the distinguished
astronomer of Harvard college observatory,
Cambridge. Mass. made an announcement
which riyeted the attention Of the astronomi-
cal world. He announced that besides the
two well known rings there was yet another |
which had eluded the penetration of all |
previous astronomers. This third ring ex-
from tho innermost margin Of the
two older rings. half way toward the globe
OF the planet. Prof. Bond was not, how
ever, destined TO enjoy the entire glory OF
this discovery. This new Saturnian feature
was simultaneously discovered by an ac-
complished English astronomer. Mr.. Dawes.
The first comment that u apt to be made on
OF the existence Of this new ring is
10 express surprise that 1t had never been
before. This 10 not due to the
that the ring 10 not large enough. nor
hat II does not occupy q, sufficiently con-
picuous p~osition. The reapon why
new object had escaped the at