142 IN STARRY REALMS. 



It is well known that we are far better acquainted with 

 the aspect of Mars, in so far as the topographical features 

 of its surface are concerned, than we are with Venus, not- 

 withstanding that Mars is a smaller globe than Venus, and, 

 generally speaking, much farther away. We can even 

 study the surface of Jupiter, with considerable detail^ 

 though under every combination of circumstances this 

 great planet is never less than twice as far from the earth as 

 is Venus. It is, however, only proper to add that it is the 

 vast bulk of Jupiter and the correspondingly great size of 

 his features which render him so discernible in spite of his 

 vast distance. We are able to speak of the belts of Jupiter, 

 to talk of the oceans and continents on Mars, and even 

 the " canals " on the latter globe are duly set down on 

 our maps. Many of the features on these two globes can 

 be represented with perfect confidence, and have conveyed 

 to us much valuable information with regard to our neigh- 

 bours in the solar system. 



The case is very different with regard to Venus. The 

 reflected sunbeams which radiate so charmingly from 

 this planet bear to us but little information with re- 

 gard to the actual details of that globe from which 

 they come. Few astronomers have that confidence in 

 the perfection of their instruments and the accuracy of 

 their eyesight which will enable them to make out recog- 

 nisable features in the Evening Star. It is true that 

 certain of the older astronomers did indicate the exist- 

 ence of certain discernible marks on the planet. It was 

 sometime thought that darker patches could be ob- 

 served which were permanent features of the globe. It 

 was also thought that when Venus appeared as a narrow 



