planet motes 97 



suggested a long period light variation in about 15 

 years. May we not have in this an explanation of 

 some of the long period light variations among the 

 stars ? 



Mr. Grover observed the disappearance of Saturn's 

 ring in 1862 with a little 2-in. achromatic. In telling 

 me of this fact, he added : "I then little thought that 

 about 20 years later (in 1882) I should have an oppor- 

 tunity of observing the planet with the great Melbourne 

 reflector of 48-inches aperture, at that time a com- 

 paratively new instrument and in excellent working 

 order. The views of some of the rich star clusters of 

 the Southern Heavens with this giant telescope were a 

 never-to-be-forgotten sight." 



Some of the satellites of Saturn appear to vary in 

 brightness, and it was while studying this interesting 

 subject that I came upon Mr. W. H. Steavenson's 

 observations at West Norwood. Employing a 3-in. 

 refractor, he found that whenever Rhea was recorded 

 as being visible it was almost invariably situated on 

 the eastern half of the orbit, from which he concluded 

 that this might be explained by an actual brightening 

 of the tiny object. He accordingly observed the 

 satellite for about forty nights, and found it " con- 

 sistently brighter when on the eastern than when on 

 the western side of the orbit." He suspected that it 

 was faintest of all when in the northern quadrant of 

 the western half of the orbit. When Mr. Steavenson 

 laid his observations before the British Astronomical 

 Association he was deservedly congratulated by the 

 Rev. T. E. R. Phillips upon having accomplished such 

 an excellent piece of work with a 3-in. telescope. 



