Solar System* 



CHAP. III. 



Of the Solar System. 



OUR solar system consists of the sun, 

 and the planets, and comets moving about 

 it. 



The planets are bodies which appear 

 to us like stars ; not that they are lumi- 

 nous bodies, that is, have light in them- 

 selves ; but they shine by reflecting the 

 sun. 



They are called planets from a Greek 

 word, which signifies wandering ; be- 

 cause they change their places, and do 

 not always keep the same distance with 

 one another, nor with the fixed stars, as 

 the fixed stars do. 



There are two kinds of planets, prima- 

 ry and secondary. The first move round 

 the sun, and respect him only as the cen- 

 ter of their motions. The secondary 

 planets, called also satellites, or moons, 

 are smaller planets, revolving round the 



