The Alaska citizen. (Fairbanks, Alaska) 1910-1917, 1911-11-06

esc"p". Saturn presented the ap
Pearance of a beautiful miniature
planet. delicarely tinted and show
1hs a sharp. clear outline against
. he dark blue sky The rings were
clearly defined. and four of the
moons. including Titan. were Wis.
ihle. These glimpses through the
/ sin and twelve-inch telescopes were
preparatory 10 view of Saturn
through the great 4Oinch refractor
Il has been said that the great
astronomer TyCho Brahe felt over.
whelmod. as in the presences of
princes when he ga7ed upon the
stars, for to him they were mon
archs OF The sky. In their honor he
woe his velvet robes OF state. be
hitting he presence of royalty. What
would he have thought. however.
could he have gazed upon Saturn
through the giant forty-inch lens at
the Ncrkes Observatory.
The sight is a revelation no words
can adequately describe. One is
srccchl. s. while regarding the won
Gcr~ OF this superb planet. encir
cled by the golden-hued rings shad-
cd with Il mere suggestion of pur
pie tint. The faint outline of the
planet was visible through the trans
parent Grape ring. and the shadow
OF the planet could be seen on the
rire itself. Six of the attendant
moons wee in sight. faithful satel-
litcs lowering within the field If
view adorned by their leader. I'm
pcrcCptibly the moments flew by.
Nhri" the writer enjoyed the won
drous scene. Then the clouds. bane.
full enemies OF astronomers. driftcd
across the field of view. complete
~ hiding Saturn from sight Yet this
VAS memorable experience to be
numbered among the red letter days
OF ones work at visual observations
tn" climax. as far as seeing Sat
urn is concerned, is YET to be attain
ed by enfoying view of rbe
planet through the great five.foot
reflector al Mount Wilson. Ca. Last
August 10 OF the worlds most re
moved astronomers climbed above
the clouds lowering around Mount
Wilson To visit the Solar observa-
tory, which is erected AT an eIeva.
ton of rearIy 5000 feet above sea
level Not only is the sun studied
il all its phases at this observatory
bur incidentally the stars and SAT
urn can he seen To the very great.
est advantage with the five.foot re.
tIerfur Those who saw Saturn hy
lis means returned with the most
plnviug accounts If their evnori.
ent-r
III is homeless ia attemnt = dc.
scripfion Of Saturn." writes one oh.
server. in his account given for the
American "Tbo rings are
while the Gark or crane
ring seemed to he much wider and
nearer the planet Than when seen
in small felescopes A tinge of
b1ua WAS Observed ON the Saturian
south pole and yellow bands 10
ward tho couator"
Prof f, f. BARNARD. who was
among tbe visitors 10 Mount Wilson
was osnociaIIy interested in the HIN,
tint of the Dolar can which as a
rule an,rars. of q sravjsh hue Thai
tho hI,a rim # tho can however
j.. mon aItooethar novelty i shawn
nv the observations of Mr. Brown.
iro who wa. some 40 wears ago
maker of raflacrinp talasconas in
! o,,dou tIo Observed tho u1anat
catn,r win - small raflector in
rha ,.o, 1SS4 In "Old and New AS
,ror,mv" my father refers to Mr.
doscrin,ion of tho col.
,,s of Satnrn', disk as foIloys.
..o;,ha r;,o, arc val,or rch,a ehad
od o.i,b rho Same and sonia. th.
rlobo va,low ocbra and brown mad.
dor nr.noa and nurnla shaded with
.a,i. tho nolo and narrow hollis
..;,,,o,od naor !, an rho .olba male
oa,,,, hl,o p,t ,hore ;s , muddi.
$500. o,,,- an ,o,ro.,ial ooIors who,
,..,,,,,..,, .,.r ,,.;,t rho colore of obiecte