ASTRONOMICAL NOTES. 593 
tion of its axis, is sharply divided into seasons, which, however, are here indi- 
cated by something else than a change of temperature ; I refer to the effects pro- 
duced by the presence of the strange ring appendage. To understand these 
effects, its appearance from the body of the planet must first be considered. As 
the plane of the ring lies in the plane of the planet's equator, an observer at the 
equator will only see its thickness, and the ring, therefore, will put on the ap- 
pearance of a band of light passing through the east and west points and the 
zenith. As the observer, however, increases his latitude north or south, the 
surface of the ring-system will begin to be seen, and it will gradually widen, as 
in fact the observer will be able to look down upon it ; but as it increases in 
width it also increases its distance from the zenith, until in latitude 65° it is lost 
below the horizon, and between this latitude and the poles it is altogether invisi- 
ble. 
No'w the plane of the ring always remains parallel to itself, and twice an 
Saturn's year, that is, in two opposite points of the planet's orbit— it passes 
through the Sun. It follows, therefore, that during one-half of the revolution of 
the planet one surface of the ring is lighted up, and during the remaining period 
the other surface. At night, therefore, in one case, the ring-system will be seen 
as an illuminated arch, with the shadow of the planet passing over it, like the hour- 
hand over a dial of a clock or watch; and in the other, if it be not lighted up by 
the light reflected from the planet, its position will only beindicatedby the entire 
absence of stars. But if the rings ecHpse the stars by night, they can also eclipse 
the Sun by day. So in latitude 40° there occur in Saturn morning and evening 
eclipses for more than a year, gradually extending until the Sun is eclipsed dur- 
ing the whole day — that is, when its apparent path lies entirely in the region 
covered by the ring; and these total ecHpses continue for nearly seven years; 
eclipses of one kind or another taking place for eight years 292 days. This will 
give us an idea how largely the apparent phenomena of the heavens, and the 
actual conditions as to climates and seasons, are influenced by the presence of 
the ring. The year of this planet is as long as thirty of ours, hence it follows that 
each surface of the rings is in turn deprived of the light of the Sun for fifteen 
years. 
Passing on along the same line that would connect Venus and Saturn, we 
will find at a distance of four hours (or 60° east of the latter) the giant planet 
Jupiter, by far the largest planet of the system. Compared with the earth it is 
1,280 times larger; it is bright enough at present, in spite of its great distance, 
to cast a shadow like Venus. Its apparent sidereal place will be in the constel- 
lation Gemini, nearly in a Hne with Castor and Pollux, at a point 9° south of the 
latter. This planet is surrounded by an atmosphere so densely laden with 
clouds that of the actual planet itself we know nothing. What are generally 
known as its belts, are dusky streaks which cross a brighter background in direc- 
tions generally parallel to its equator. And for the most part, the largest belts 
are situated on either side of it, in exactly the same way as the two belts of "Trade- 
Winds " on the earth lie on either sidfe of the belt of Equatorial calms and rains. 
