COMETS. 17 



miles, and is 1470 times as large as the earth. 

 This planet, the largest of the solar system, is re- 

 markable for four moons, which move round it, as 

 our moon moves round the earth, and during its 

 nights, reflect upon it light received from the 

 sun. 



Saturn is at the distance of nearly 900 millions 

 of miles from the sun, about 80,000 miles in 

 diameter, and requires twenty-nine years and a 

 half to perform his journey. Saturn has seven 

 moons revolving round it, and reflecting upon it 

 the sun's light, and it is encircled also by a broad 

 ring, that is always brilliant. The ring is com- 

 posed of two distinct parts, separated by a space 

 of about 250 miles. It is in breadth about one- 

 third of Saturn's diameter, and at the same distance 

 from the planet. 



The planet Uranus takes eighty-three years to 

 complete its revolution round the sun. Its dis- 

 tance from that luminary is 1803 millions of miles. 

 Being about 40,000 miles in diameter, it is seventy- 

 eight times as large as our earth. 



COMETS. 



A class of moving bodies, occasionally seen, 

 followed by a train of light, which bears a fancied 

 resemblance to flowing hair, are thence called 

 comets. At their first appearance, comets are 

 scarcely perceptible, but as they approach the sun, 

 they increase in size and velocity; and then, by 

 degrees, diminish and disappear. Their motions 



B2 



