38 SATELLITES OF UEANUS. [SECT. iv. 



nearly perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic ; and, by 

 analogy, they ought to be in the plane of his equator. Uranus 

 is so remote that he has more the appearance of a planetary 

 nebula than a planet, which renders it extremely difficult to 

 distinguish the satellites at all ; and quite hopeless without 

 such a telescope as is rarely to be met with even in observa- 

 tories. Sir William Herschel discovered six, and determined 

 the motions of two of them ; but from that time the position 

 of the planet has been such as to render farther observations 

 impossible. The subject has recently occupied the attention 

 of his son, who has found evidence of the general correctness 

 of his father's views, and has been enabled to determine the 

 elements of the motions of these minute objects with more 

 accuracy. The first satellite performs its revolution about 

 Uranus in 8 d 16 h 56 m 28 S> 6 ; and the second satellite accom- 

 plishes its period in 13 d ll h 7 m 12 S> 6. The orbits of both 

 seem to have an inclination of about 101 0> 2 to the plane of 

 the ecliptic ; and their motions offer the singular phenomenon 

 of being retrograde, or from east to west ; while all the planets 

 and the other satellites revolve in the contrary direction. 

 Sir John Herschel could not perceive the smallest indication 

 of a ring. 



