Masterpieces of Science 



be required to contain the representation of the 

 sun's globe on this scale, while the globe repre- 

 senting the earth could be placed on a moderately 

 large goblet. 



Such is the system which sways the motions 

 of the solar system. The largest of his family, 

 the giant Jupiter, though of dimensions which 

 dwarf those of the earth or Venus almost to 

 nothingness, would yet only be represented by a 

 thirty-two inch globe, on the scale which gives 

 to the sun the enormous volume I have spoken 

 of. Saturn would have a diameter of about 

 twenty-eight inches, his ring measuring about 

 five feet in its extreme span. Uranus and Nep- 

 tune would be little more than a foot in diameter, 

 and all the minor planets would be less than the 

 three-inch earth. It will thus be seen that the 

 sun is a worthy centre of the great scheme he 

 sways, even when we merely regard his dimen- 

 sions. 



The sun outweighs fully 730 times the com- 

 bined mass of all the planets which circle around 

 him, so that when we regard the energy of his 

 .attraction, we still find him a worthy ruler of the 

 planetary scheme. 



But, after all, the enormous volume and mass 

 of the sun form the least important of his charac- 

 teristics as the ruling body of the solar system. 

 It is when we contemplate him as the source 

 whence the supplies of light and heat required 

 by our own world and the other planets are 

 plentifully bestowed that we see what is his 

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