Year: 1877

Flammarions SpeculatiOns on jupiter.


The world of Jupiter is the most
voluminous of all the globes of our
system it is only one thousand times
smaller than the sun, and by itself
alone is equal to fourteen hundred
terrestrial globes. So, although il re.
vo YES in circuit that is almost two
hundred million leagues distant and
receives light very much fainter than
that received by the earth, its bulki-
nos. is manifested through the bril-
liancy with which it shines during our
star light nights, brilliancy equal,
and stten even superior, to that with
which Venus sparkles. His is raw
ishing world, at least so far as one can
Judge from distance, without having
been there. In the first place, per.
petual springtime radiates DER his sur
face. If he is bedecked with flowers,
circumstance of which we have no
doubt, save as to knowing of what
such flowers may consist-they
do not live only "l'espaco DUN
matin' (the space of a morn
ing) as your roses, but enjoy an
existence infinitely more heightened.
Scarcely do the older ones begin to
show few wrinkles and wax wan ere
they are replaced by charming buds
putting forth their bloom before the
first have witherod. Not only does
every year on the Jovian planet equal
twelve OF our years, but We further
hardly know when the annual period
begins or ends. There are no summers,
no winters, but always the spring.
Then the world of Jupiter presents Il
surface one hundred and twenty-six
times more extensive than the earths.
say surface and not volume. Now,
one hundred and twenty-six earths,
one placed alongside another, and over
which mankind might spread at will,
would constitute an exceedingly fine
country, would it noty We ought not,
then, to doubt that such an empire
was formed To serve as dwelling place
for some human family worthy OF all
our respect. Because we find, through
observation OF the Jovian planet,
excellent reason for believing its in.
habit ,nts greatly favored, it does not
follow that the said inhabitants should
make the same reflections respecting
us. A good reason confronts the sup
position of their bothering themselves
thereabout-the fact that they do not
so much assuspect our existence. And,
indeed, should it ever, in a future more
or less distant, happen to you to dwell
on Jupiter, you would have no little
trouble to find your former home. You
would have to get up bit before sun
rise (and take note that there are but
five hours between the sunrsing and
setting of that orb on Jupiter, and,
five or six minutes before the suns ap.
pearanco, seek in the east for tiny
white star. With very sharp eyes you
might chance, perhaps, to perceive it


In such case YOU would know that
our earth is in the world. SO again,
six month later you nigh. make the
same search in the west n few moments
after the day-king's retiring. Such are
the conditions in which the dwellers Of
Jupiter find themselves as regards us.
Earth is never seen from there during
the night, whilst it is precisely in the
calm night time that we, from here,
can best observe that magnificent
planet. As for the planets which fol-
low-Saturn, Uranus and Neptune
they cannot have, respecting thereto,
any conception whatever. Jupiter is,
in sooth world. a splendid world,
beside which ours is verify buta moon,
and were We to observe it close at
hand, to grow accustomed TO its nature,
to live awhile amidst its surroundings
and to appreciate its Importance, we
should regard our globe as very mod
est when coming forth from such a
place Of soiourn. We should he like
those good village folk who come once
in their lifetime to Paris, and who, il
thev have the i'll luck to remain there
a month only, no longer know what to
make of their village--it is eclipsed
by the mere recollection of the splen
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