The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-16
BEAUTY in THE HEAVENS
ONE OF THE MOST FASCINATING
sPECTACLEs SINCE YEAR ONE.
Garrett p. serviss Writes of Wonder
full Planetary chapE--. ~Sb.ersa-
{, BILE During This sunme

gloom on the night Of the Summer Solstice
I'm 1896. there opened before the vision OF
the astronomer perhaps as spiendid an
array Of the planetary and stellar hosts as
the heavens have ever presented to the
contemplation of the inhabitants of the
earth. Monsieur Flammarion recently as
serted that the aspect OF the sky on this
solstitial occasion would be the most re-
markable as far as astronomers can tell,
that has ever been known since the begin
ming of the world. Monsieur Flammarion
may possibly have been induiging in a little
hyperbole. Nevertheless. the arrangement
of the planets in the solar system and their
relation TO the background of the stellar
universe was certainly uncommon and
worthy of universal attention. To him who
on the night of June q devoted
himself TO the study and consider
alton of celestial marvels the universe
offered Itself with memorable freedom. and
no better time could have been chosen for
beginning an acquaintance with the sub
lime environments amid which our little
earth floats as a mote in the sunbeams-
AS soon as the twilight paled a little,
piercing the golden curtain of the west was
seen the brilliant light Of Jupiter shining
in the constellation Cancer. and close 10
the remarkable cluster OF suns which is
Known unuef the pOpuidi dpptlidtioh VI IA
Beehive. Jupiter has recently shown singu-
lar evidences of great disturbances going
on In the vast envelope of clouds by which
1T Is enwrapped. and it will continue to be
a most enhancing object for telescope
study But as the night deepened a far
more interesting and wonderful phenome-
non presented itself high in the southern
heavens and near the meridian-the ringed
planet Saturn. Strange events nave evil
IDENTIFY occurred in the Saturnian system
lately, but We shall return TO these things
further on.
1t Is important to remark that at this
time Jupiter. the mightiest member. ex-
cept the sun itself. of the solar system. is
so situated with reference to the majority
OF the other planets that the effect of his
and their attractions must be to put the
center of gravity of the system outside the
SURFACE or the sun. In other words. the
sun may be represented as swinging at one
end OF an Imaginary bar or lever, the full
crum OF which is very close to the solar
surface: and on the other end OF which are
suspended several Of the greatest planets
composing the solar family. While Ju-
piter lies a little eastward from the sun.
and consequently appears in the evening
SKY. Neptune. Venus and Mercury are all
assembled together a little westward from
the sun. and therefore in the morning sky,
in the constellation of Taurus.
SOLAR CENTER OF GRAVITY.
~" aAJ n ol0 dlNCl tlC -OtIl
of June these three planets are in c~onjunc-
ton with one another. again and again, APP
parently oscillating to and fro i'm a most
interesting manner. Although the actual
distance separating each of them from all
of the others is. Of course. very great, yet
when they are thus assembled on the same
side of the sun. which happens in this case
TO be the side nearly opposite to where the
earth is. they exert their greatest disturb
ing effect not only upon the sun. but upon
one another. At this time we see these
planets apparently in far more intimate re-
lations with one another than they ordi-
narily exhibit. For some time past the po-
sitions Of the various planets have been in
nc smalY degree remarkable. 1t has been
asserted that a few months ago their re-
spective situations were such as they had
not previously occupied since the beginning
of the Christian era. and with regard TO
several of the large planets this was sub
stantially true. The Projectors of evil and
OF extraordinary things to come found in
this fact a basis for magnifying their prog
nostications. although. OF course. no we'll
informed person to-day believes that the
beginning or the end of our era had. or will
have, any causal connection with the po-
sition of the planets
Returning now to Saturn. situated in the
constellation Libra. and near the meridian
on the night of the 10Th of June, of all the
planets IL exhibited the most surprising
phenomena. ard those, the study of which
- y ~ offN - III - iAtO
the processes of change and growth going
on in the worlds around U.S. At Monsieur
Flammarion's own observatory the discOy-
cry has quite recently been made of three
new divisions in the rings of Saturn, and
the outermost OF these rings. having a d.
ameter of about 10000 miles, has been seen
apparently broken uD into pieces resemb-
ling great luminous masses. separated by
comparatively dark spaces. Some of these
phenomena should be visible with compar-
atiyely sman telescopes. so that an observ-
er provided even with an humble equip
ment may fairly hope TO make observations
OF high interest, and. possibly. discoveries
of Importance concerning the ringed planet.
The theory was put forth many years ago
that the rings of Saturn are not permanent
bodies. and that they show indications of a
tendency 10 be precipitated upon the globe
OF saturn beneath them Such a downfall
suddenly effected, would result in an out
burst of light and heat from Saturn that
miniature sun. During the last fifteen
years. however. the apparent inward move
ment of the rings of Saturn has either
ceased or become so slow as TO be no longer
noticeable. But the new division of the
rings just discovered. and the curious APP
pearance presented by the outer ring may
possibly indicate the play of descriptive
forces, due to the attractive influence of
saturns satellites. which may cause a
breaking up and destruction of the rings in
a manner not hitherto anticipated.
v OF DISCOVERY.
The fact is that We are just now very
probably on the eve OF extraordinarily in
teresting discoveries concerning these won-
derful outer planets. and il is quite pos
sible after all. and the present opportunity
offered TO astronomers should give US some
light upon this question. that the idea
which has prevailed for many years that
Jupiter. Saturn. Uranus and Neptune are
unfinished worlds not yet cooled down and
become habitable NAV. after all, be a mis-
take. Phases OF creation hitherto unknown
and unguessed at by astronomers may
from this time begin TO unfold themselves
before us as the gigantic instruments which
are now being completed are more and
more fully brought to bear in the investi-
CATION OF celestial phenomena.
While Saturn reigns in midheaven the
fortunate observer of the sky on the night
OF the summer solstice was able 10 find a
few degrees eastward from the ringed
world the planet Uranus. To one furnished
with z telescope of a~dequate power a vista
OF exceeding interest Is opened i'm thus
CHANGING from Saturn. the most distant
planet which was known to the ancient
astronomers and astrologers. across n gap
OF 500. 900. coo OF miles 10 Uranus. the first
OF the still more distant planets which
modern astronomers have discovered.
While Saturn and Uranus hold the mid
die ground I'm the evening sky. both living
in the constellation Libra. Mars fingers so
far behind. in Pisces. that the observer
will have 10 wait until two or three hours
after midnight In order to obtain a good
view OF him I'm the morning sky The red