The Elbert County tribune., 1908-06-18
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Eyes OF astronomers. as well as of
star gazers among the ranks OF the
laymen, have been directed with spe-
cial interest towards Jupiter of late
owing to the reported discovery of the
eighth satellite of the great planet
whose history-in an astronomical
rather than a NEUROLOGICAL sense--is
a marvel of scientific romance. There
is probably no object in the heavens
around which such rich associations
cluster. 1t was the Jovian orb that
presided over the first intimations of
the speed of light in the days when
Roemer watched the eclipses of its
moons. To Jupiter was directed the
first telescope ever trained on the
skies by an earthly astronomer. 1t
fell to the lot of Jupiter to intervene
in the great struggle between rival
theories of the world order and con-
acct itself forever with a most thrill
ling period in the history of science.
Measured and weighed since then with
all attainable exactness, 1t is known
for observers to-day as the planet of
colossal dimensions and terrific
speed, of numerous progeny and
troubled countenance, yet it never
shines without casting its luster away
back toward the middle ages upon the
serene. indomitable and undying figure
Of Calico.
| The surprising fact about Jupiter,
SO far as its moons are concerned, is
that the planet was lost to astro-
nomical investigation for nearly 300
years. In that time the telescope
underwent enormous Improvement.
Herschel mapped the heavens with his
great tube, and Lord Rosses reflector
at Parsonstown showed such light
gathering capacity that the star Sirius
shone in 1t like a coach lamp" Later
still, with the introduction of archro-
matte object lenses and advance in the
art of glass making. the comparatively
tremendous range and defining power
of the modern refracting telescope
were placed at the disposal of the OBJ
server. The Lick instrument, with its
clear width of three feet turned toward
the night sky, seemed well nigh the
limit of the investigating power which
astronomers could hope to command.
Yet after all this advance and almost
at the beginning of the twentieth cen
tury Jupiter showed no more of her
moons to the modern scientists than
she had revealed nearly three cen
turtles before to the Impractical eye
and rude instrument of Calico The
planet was known in 1910 to have four
satellites; in 1892 no sane astronomer
expected to see any more. 1t was a
comfortable provision, and the count
seemed closed Yet all this time there
were seven, possibly eight, moons
though the fact was hidden from the
world. just as magnetism had been
hidden until Gilbert brought it into
notice, and as radium was hidden until
the Curies raised it from the dust.
Jupiter was reserving his secret for
some daring observer who should
bridge the gap of nearly 300 years
with a new discovery. The first chap
ter of the revelation came in 1892, and
the revealer was Prof Edward Emer-
son Barnard of the Lick observatory.
southern man. who had already
done excellent work in celestial pho.
Biography. besides discovering a num-
ber of comets, he was one of the first,
In the clear air of Mt. Hamilton, Cal.
to turn the new 36-inch telescope to
the planets. He was doubtless eager
to know what of new detail ard phys
ical construction the big glass would
bring forth. Happening one Septem-
ber midnight to be examining the disc
of Jupiter he glimpsed a tiny speck
of light near the edge of the planet.
It soon became lost in the glare of the
larger body, but the quest was re-
sumed on succeeding nights, and then
the news was flashed to every Ameri-
can and foreign observatory that Jupi-
ter had five moons. This unexpected
and momentous discovery thrilled the
astronomical world, but there were
other surprises yet to come. Early
in January, 1904, Prof. Charles Dillon
Perrine of the same observatory-also
comet finder and expert in the study
of eclipses-announced a. sixth satel-
lite, the existence of which he had
suspected in December of the previous
year; and the observation was con-
firmed by experts at the United States
naval observatory. In January, 1905,
Prof Perrine followed up his success
by discovering seventh satellite, and
now what may turn out to be the