28 president's address. 



usually of so permanent a character as the great red spot, 

 which, however, at the present time appears to be on the wane. 

 On Saturn also, faint streaks of light and shade have been 

 observed on the ball, leading us to infer that this planet is 

 likewise surrounded by an atmosphere of some kind, subject to 

 all its attendant meteorological phenomena. But these two 

 distant planets do not exhibit so many permanent markings as 

 may be observed on the surface of Mars, which of all the planets 

 has the most terrestrial appearance. The markings on Mars are 

 very distinctly defined, forming apparent continents, islands^ 

 seas, and inlets. The brightest parts, excepting the white 

 patches near each pole, have a faint ruddy tint, while over- 

 spreading the continents networks of fine lines have been 

 noticed, to which the name of canals have been given. 



All the planets from the earth to Neptune are now known 

 to be attended by one or more satellites. The two moons of 

 Mars were unknown before 1877, when they were discovered by 

 Prof. Asaph Hall, at the Washington Observatory. To an 

 observer on Mars they must present a remarkable appearance in 

 the heavens, as the nearer of the two revolves around the planet 

 in less than eight hours, and the more distant satellite in about 

 thirty hours, at a distance of only 4,000 and 12,000 miles 

 respectively from the surface of Mars. The telescopic view of 

 Jupiter and its four attendant moons always affords considerable 

 interest, especially the continual change in the positions of the 

 different satellites relatively to themselves and their primary. 

 If we may be permitted to imagine that there are any intelligent 

 beings on Jupiter, we may almost picture to ourselves the 

 very startling nocturnal phenomena presented to their view. 

 The nights must always be favoured with moonlight, for when 

 any one of the satellites is absent from the visible firmament, 

 one at least of the others is almost certain to be present. 

 Frequently, the surface of Jupiter is enlightened by three moons 

 at the same time, all exhibiting different phases. The changes 

 that are continually taking place in the Jovian aspect as the 

 planet rotates on its axis, taken in combination with the constant 

 variations in its cloudy envelope, must be singularly impressive 

 and suggestive to any reasoning creatures, supposing that there 

 are such on these four attendant worlds circling around Jupiter. 



