The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1903-09-20

future article as will enable the OBJ
server to find them.
1t seems then that our chief attraction
now must be Jupiter, so grandly magnifi-
cent in the southeastern sky. Many days
of rain have purified the atmosphere, and
now when clear evening occurs he
at an unusually good position for observa-
ton. On the 18th of this month Jupiter
passed. the point in his orbit known as
Opposition That is the earth was
directly between the sun and Jupiter. and
an observer then sees those two bodies in
opposite directions; hence the name OPP
position. This time, and for some time
following, is most favorable for observa-
ton. both because Jupiter is then near
est the earth and because it is farthest
from the twilight glow in the heavens.
Opera Glass Enhances View.
If the naked-ey view of Jupiter is so
grand, how much more wonderful is the
view through a telescope, or even a good
opera glass. 1t is not generally known to
our younger observers that an opera glass
Will reveal many wonders in the sky. Try
upon some of the double stars, and find
your reward. But, if possible, gain ac-
cess to some good telescope, and your
pleasure will be far greater.
In the observatory of the Central high
school is better telescope than is known
to the writer in any other high school;
though of course far inferior to those in
many colleges. Hundreds Of students in
the high school. and scores of citizens,
have made use of this instrument in
studying. Jupiter and other bodies, and
had sought the opportunity. But if we
are too Indifferent to glance at the skies
on clear evening, we will hardly take
the trouble to climb up to the observatory
JupIter's Short Days and Nights.
But what does telescope view of Jupi-
ter reveal to us? First, then, that this
starlike body is really great world (more
than thirteen hundred times as large as
our earth), with mysterious belts or
bands round it, parallel with its equator,
whose spots and markings show that it
rotates in less than ten hours, giving about
five hours of daylight and five of darkness.
What glorious land for those weary
souls who are always longing for the COM
ing of night! There they would not have
long to wait; but unfortunately daylight
comes soon also.
Secondly, the telescope shows us. that
Jupiter is attended by a retinue of five
moons, or satellites. One of these is Wis
ible in large telescopes only, but our little
telescope shows all the others, strung like
pearls around the neck of this ancient
God
And even few strong eyes have been
able. unaided, to detect them, though this
is unusual.
moons continuously rising and setting,
waxing and waning. and entering into
eclipse! Moonlight nights and moonlight
walks have ever been popular on our own
earth But what splendid possibilities
exist on, Jupiter, where sometimes all
five of the moons shine at once; some
times part of them are waning and part
of them are waxing, and only occasionally
all are "dark'' at the same time, which
last only a little while.
Hundreds of EcIipses Occur
Then, too, what possibilities for the
study of eclipses. Here we cannot pos
sibly have more than seven eclipses in
one year, and that number it quite un-
usual. Moreover an observer is so stu
ated that he can see only part of these
During the same time an observer on
Jupiter if there were such, would have
opportunity to witness hundreds of
eciipses, for Jupiters moons are not only
more numerous. but they lie more nearly
in the plane joining sun and planet; and
finally, they make their revolutions IN
much less time, giving so many more OPP
portunities for eclipses to occur.
Our moon requires twenty-nine days
and twelve hours to complete a revolu-
ton. The moons of Jupiter vary from
about twelve hours to sixteen days; and
thus the panorama Of change goes on
rapidly and ceaslessly forever.
1t is not worth our while to study these
sublime phenomena for. little while?
Hereafter we may consider other evening
stars, -