202 History of the Discovery of the Planet Neptune. 
It is the opinion of some observers, that Neptune is surrounded 
by a ring like Saturn. Mr. Lassell of Liverpool, has an excellent 
Newtonian reflector of twenty feet focal length and two feet aper- 
ture, with which he has made numerous observations of the planet. 
On the 3d of October, 1846, he was struck with the shape of the 
planet, as being not that of a round ball; and again on the 10th 
of October, he received a distinct impression that the planet was 
surrounded by an obliquely situated ring. On the 10th of No- 
vember, the planet appeared very much like Saturn, as seen with 
a smnall telescope, and low power, though much fainter. Several 
other persons also saw the supposed ring, and all in the same di- 
rection. During the past season, Mr. Lassell frequently saw the 
same appearance again, and found its angle of position to be 70 
degrees S. W. He also satisfied himself that this appearance did 
not arise from any defect in his telescope. 
Professor Challis states that on the 12th of January, 1847, he 
received for the first time a distinct impression that the planet 
was surrounded bya ring. Two independent drawings made by 
himself and his assistant, gave the annexed representation @ 
of its appearance. On the 14th he saw the ring again, and 
was surprised that he had not noticed it before. The ratio of 
the diameter of the ring to that of the planet, was about that of 
three to two. 
n the other hand, the great telescope at Cambridge, Mass., 
exhibits no ring. The following is an extract of a letter from 
the director, Mr. W. C. Bond. “In regard to Neptune we have 
never been able to satisfy ourselves of the existence of a ring. 
well together. The only times when we have observed any thing 
like projections, have been during unfavorable states of the atmos- 
phere, and at low altitudes.” 
When we consider that Prof. Challis saw the supposed ring. 
while the planet was very near the horizon, we may easily per- 
suade ourselves that the elongation observed was an atmospheric 
phenomenon. It seems more difficult to explain away Mr. Las- 
sell’s observations, as they were made with an excellent instru- 
ment, and have been many times repeated. Nevertheless, whens 
we remember the difference of latitude of the observers, we cannot 
help feeling that Mr. Bond’s negative testimony is as good as Mr. 
Lassell’s positive testimony, and if we do not entirely deny the 
possible existence of a ring, we must at least hold our minds in 
suspense, and wait patiently for further evidence. It is possible 
that this question may never be fully cleared up, until some more 
powerful telescope is turned upon the planet, or it can be observ-— 
ed in a different part of its orbit. 
