EIGHTH SATELLITE OF SATUKN. 97 



During the year 1848, this planet was subjected to the 

 most rigid scrutiny, in consequence of the disappearance 

 of its ring, it being presented edgewise to the sun ; and 

 on the 16th of September, an eighth satellite was dis- 

 covered by the Messrs. Bond of Cambridge, Mass. The 

 following is Mr. Bond's account of the discovery. " On 

 the evening of September 16th, we noticed a small star 

 situated nearly in the plane of Saturn's ring, and between 

 the satellites Titan and lapetus. This circumstance was 

 at that time regarded as accidental; nevertheless, the 

 position of the star, with respect to Saturn, was recorded. 

 The next night favorable for observation was the 18th. 

 While comparing the relative brightness of the satellites, 

 we again noticed the same object, similarly situated with 

 respect to the planet, and we carefully observed its posi- 

 tion. But up to this moment, its real nature was scarcely 

 suspected. Measures, carefully made during the evening 

 of the 19th, having proved that the star partook of the 

 retrograde motion of Saturn, we studied that part of the 

 heavens toward which the planet was moving. Each of 

 the stars which it was expected to approach during the 

 two following nights was marked upon a chart, and 

 micrometric measurements fixed its position and distance 

 with respect to neighboring objects. 



"The evening of the 20th was cloudy. 



" On the 21st the new satellite had approached the 

 planet, and it sensibly changed its position with respect to 

 the stars during the time of observation. Similar obser- 

 vations were repeated on the nights of the 22d and 23d." 



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