The Delta independent., 1899-02-03
4 Vssy 0iaiaturs Wesi1.

A miniature world was discovered on
August IA. 1898. by an astronomer nam.
ed Witt. OF the Urania Observatory.
Berlin. He has christened the little
vandsrer Pluto. and 1898 DO. after the
usual method OF naming newly discov-
cred planstoids, since It belongs to the
family Of little worlds that journey in
the vast space between Mars and Jupi-
ter. The year OF its discovery 10
indicated by 1893, and double letter is
used as further means Of identified
ton. For instance, during the month
OF November. seven more were added to
the list OF planetoids, and we're identified
o. DU, DIV. DIV, etc. % that no special
significance attaches to 1885 DO. al
though - q mere coincidence. this little
world happens to exc sed all the others
10 speed. Until nov . planetoid rs-
joicing in the game Of Adalberta claimed
this honor. completing its circtit around
the sun in about three years. but 1898
DO accomplishes the same journey in
645 days. Later on. the planetoid will
be endowed with a symbol; that is, .
number inclosed in q circle. the ring
being apparently symbolicai OF capture.
For instance, we see planetoids referred
to as Atala (l52). Una (l6ol. Beatrix
(s3) and Ceres ~. the number being
assigned according to the order OF dis
covery. Over four hundred and City
have 90 far been discovered. and the cry
is "still they come" until astronomers
are at their Wits end how to take care
OF them.
Although Pluto is a member OF the
family OF planetoids. yet it does not
resemble them iu the least in it's orbital
motion. While they keep at . safe
distance from the giant planet Jupiter
on the one side. and sentinel Mari on
the other. Pluto rashly ventures beyond
the boundaries marked out by the path
OF Mars. coming nearer to the earth
than any other member OF the solar
system excepting the moon. or an occa
Q onsl comet. When at its nearest ap.
proach TO the earth. il is only fourteen
millions OF miles away: !. e. one seventh
the distance OF the sun. Nevertheless.
a simple illustration will show that 1893
DO is at comparatively safe distance.
IL = bicycle track were made from the
earth 10 the newly discovered world. .
century rider taking a message from
planet Earth to the inhabitants liz auyl
o, Pluto would have to keep on cycling
a hundred miles day for three hun
dred and eighty three years before he
usuld finally reach HE destination.
Gravity or the weight OF objects would
be greatly altered. IL removed from the
earth to this miniature world, providing
/, 10 made o: materials OF the same
density as those OF which the earth is
composed. A man weighing two hun
dred and fifty pounds here would fiud
his weight reduced to q few ounce.
there. II the atmosphere surrounding
Pluto i. os the same density - the
atmosphere surrounding the earth. fly.
ing and Tapping = pair OF wings would
be quite within the range OF possibility.
Under theee circumstances. IL the newly
discovered plsneioij we're Inhabited.
/, would be . race u bcinxs utterly
unlike any ~~ are scqaainted With here.
This miniature world 10 probably only
t~euiy nve miie~ in diameter. - that.
IL it ser- dropp~d into the Atlantic
Ocean. it would mske . moderately
risise eoold cycle 10 lsD thaa . day.
Suppusing its sarfscs ossas -eovsesd.
the h.sslssAip -Os~Roa- sVssdisg -
rate q 10 ailss h tvsesy-sSss hcsss
,iss rscord dssieg ~ Iess vssl cssA
s.sily oshs sArss ssips 81 pass = .
sssssh ssossd q - ~. WAss q ~
sssssss 10 ~ sassA. Hses GAisD ~
e ~ sissA oaU.1es1A - - -
~ - ~ - sast1so - ~