2 Wilde, Ou tlic Periodic Times of Saturn's Rings. 



The unit distance, 3"i6, for Mimas necessarily involves 

 the correlative reduction of the distances of the other 

 Saturnian satellites, as now set forth in the tables of these 

 elements published by American astrc^iomers. 



That Saturn's rings are ejectamenta from the interior 

 of the planet is further evident from the fact that no 

 causal connexion subsists between their times of rotation 

 and that of the planet itself, as the inner edge of the ring 

 C has a periodic time of only 5 hours 45 minutes, while 

 the axial rotation of Saturn is 10 hours 13 minutes. 



The same conclusion may also be drawn with reference 

 to the origin of the two satellites of Mars, as Phobos has 

 a period of only 7 hours 39 minutes, while the axial 

 rotation of the planet is 24 hours ^y minutes. 



The comparative minuteness of these bodies, which 

 are estimated to be less than 10 miles in diameter, in- 

 dicates them as ejectamenta rather than the successive 

 condensations of a nebular substance surrounding the 

 planet. 



Saturn's dusky ring and the inner satellite of Mars 

 are the only bodies in the solar system that revolve in a 

 shorter time than their primaries. 



