52 TWO NEW WORLDS 



inner planet of Grean. The outer planets are called 

 Prima, Secunda, and Tertia, in order of distance, 

 The other stars are called Alpha, Beta, &c. 



3. From the Records of the Talav Observatory. 



Year 5280, July 1. This year's conjunction of 

 Prima, Secunda, and Tertia is looked forward to 

 with considerable interest. Tertia will certainly be 

 lost to our system if she undergoes any additional 

 outward perturbation. 



Oct. 5. Last night's observations show that the 

 conjunction has not expelled Tertia. She is there- 

 fore safe for another 72 years, unless something 

 extraordinary happens. 



Year 5283, Feb. 5. An unknown comet has been 

 sighted in the orbital plane of Secunda. Approaching 

 with a speed of 10 8 cm. per second, and will pass Grean 

 at half Talav's distance. Will probably join our system. 



March 1. Now comet turns out to be a planet of 

 the size and mass of Talav, and same charge. Has 

 joined our system, and will have an orbit of great 

 eccentricity, extending considerably beyond that of 

 Tertia. 



Year 5285, March 15. New planet is approach- 

 ing apo-Grean, but is showing decided perturbations, 

 which are shared by all other planets. These are 

 cosmic and periodic. Period estimated at three 

 months. 



