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EECEEATIVE SCIENCE. 



the means of bringing to light bodies whose 

 existence was previously unknown. 



Speaking of the mean distances of the 

 asteroids from the sun, Flora (Hind's) is 

 the nearest, viz., 209,788,000 miles, with a 

 period of 1193 days. Ariadne (Pogson's) 

 Was formerly considered to hold this post of 

 honour, but the latest elements by Weir give 

 its mean distance as 210,022,000 miles, with 

 a period of 1195 days. Sygeia (Gasperis') 

 is the most remote, viz., 301,324,000 miles, 

 with a period of 2054 days. The eccentricity 

 of the orbit may, however, in several cases, 



take a planet much nearer the sun than 

 Flora's mean distance, or when in aphelion, 

 much further off than the mean distance of 

 Hygeia. For instance, Melpomene's peri- 

 helion, and Themis's aphelion may be con- 

 sidered as the present known limits of the 

 asteroidal region. Of the asteroids, Vesta is 

 the brightest, and Atalanta and Hestia the 

 faintest. 



The following is a list of the planets of 

 our solar system, together with the names of 

 the discoverers, the place and date, and the 

 number each astronomer has discovered :— 



Number each 

 Place of Discovery, Observer has 

 discovered. 



Palermo 



Bremen 



Lilienthal 



Bremen 



Driesen 



Driesen 



London 



London 



Markree 



Naples 



Naples 



London 



Naples 



London 



Naples 



Naples 



Bilk 



London 



London 



Naples 



Paris 



London 



London 



Naples 



Marseilles 



Bilk 



London 



Bilk. 



London 



London 



Washington 



Paris . 



* Irene was independently discovered four days later, by Gasperis. 



+ Massilia one day later, by Chacornac. 



J Amphitrite one day later, by Pogson, and two days later, by Chacornac, 



1 

 1 

 1 

 2 

 1 

 2 



1 

 2 

 1 

 1 

 2 

 8 

 3 

 4 

 4 

 5 

 1 

 5 

 6 

 6 

 1 

 7 

 8 

 7 

 1 

 2 

 9 

 3 

 1 

 10 

 1 

 2 



