1 30 On the Formation of the Universe. 



the sun : and an inverse proportion to the number and mass 

 of its satelhtes. The revolution of each satellite on its axis, 

 and its periodical time, are probably equal. 



5. The planets, taken with respect to their masses and in- 

 termediate distances, exist in two distinct series, the upper 

 one of which gradually increases, and the lower one grad- 

 ually increases and diminishes in quantity of matter as 

 we descend toward the sun : and on the contrary, the 

 eccentricities of the successive orbits have in the upper 

 series a gradual diminution, and a gradual diminution 

 and increase in the lower series. The planets of the upper 

 series are much the largest and most distant apart. With 

 regard to intervening distance an analogy is known to exist 

 between the planetary and lunar systems, and there are rea- 

 sons to presume that it exists also with regard to eccentrici- 

 ty and quantity of matter. 



6. The asteroids appear to exist in pairs, two of them 

 having atmospheres similar to each other, but much great- 

 er than the atmospheres of the other two ; and the individ- 

 ual of each pair which has the most oblique orbit, is in very 

 nearly the same degree the most eccentric, and its mean 

 distance from the sun is in a different degree the greatest. • 



7. The rings of Saturn are nearly in the same plane with 

 its equator and satellites : The inner ring is much larger 

 than the outer one, and their angular motion is a little slow- 

 er than that of the planet, but much more rapid than that of 

 a satellite at the mean distance of its parts. Saturn in con- 

 tradistinction from all the other planets, and from the form 

 which it would naturally assume if it were fluid, is consider- 

 ably depressed about its equator. 



8. The deiisities of the various planets and satellites are 

 generally in inverse proportion to their quantities of matter, 

 and in a direct proportion to their distance from the sun. 



9. Comets move indiscriminately and almost equally in 

 all directions. The periheUa of all of them are between the 

 sun and the orbit of Jupiter ; and the orbits of the interven- 

 ing planets are, with regard to their obliquity, the most ir- 

 regular. 



10. The stars are not uniformly scattered over the firma- 

 ynent, but appear in nebulae, which are generally arranged 

 into strata, and run on to a great length. Some of these 

 strata appear parallel to each other, and some in the shape 



