L. Trouveloi— Physical Observations of Saturn. 



does not seem to be uniformly distributed ; but seems 

 to be agglomerated here and there into denser masses, which I 

 have often recognized upon that part of the dusky ring crossing 

 the planet between u and v. These supposed agglomerations 

 appeared as dark masses, intercepting the light of the planet 

 This phenomenon could not be attributed to dark markings on 

 the planet, seen through the dusky ring; since there are no 

 markings so dark and so small on Saturn. Neither could they 

 be produced by the dark bands sometimes surrounding the globe 

 of Saturn, as some traces would have been detected on the edge 

 of the dusky ring, since these bands are usually wider than the 



mottled or cloudy appearance, like Jupiter. The clouds of Sat- 

 urn are more finely divided, like certain forms of the cirri clouds 

 of our own atmosphere. The cloudy appearance of Saturn, of 

 course, is not so easily seen as that of Jupiter. It always re- 

 quires a good steady night to see it. 



I have never seen the planet striped with a large number of 

 parallel bands, such as some observers have described. Three 

 or four form the extreme limit. Nor have I seen the bands so 

 conspicuously marked, so regular, so distinct«n outline, and so 

 dark ; the equatorial band being always by far the most con- 

 spicuous, while the others were barely perceptible. The equa- 

 torial belt has always appeared to me to be slightly tinged with 

 a delicate carmine red, very much like the equatorial belt of 

 Jupiter; only the pink color of the former is much fainter. In 

 no instance could I compare the color of this band to " brick 

 red," as it is commonly described. 



Like the equatorial belt of Jupiter, that of Saturn is variable 

 m width, and changes its form as well as its position. It is 

 usually composed of two grayish, irregular bands, forming its 

 limits north and south, between which are seen flocculent pink- 

 ish cloud-forms. 



The general color of the planet differs from that of the rings, 

 in being of a slight warm brown in which there is a yellowish 

 tinge. The contrast of color with the rings is better seen by 

 the use of very high powers. 



To conclude : my observations show, — 



I. That the inner margin of the ring B, limiting the outer 

 border of the principal division has shown on the ansae some 

 singular dark angular forms ; which may be attributed to an 

 irregular and jagge<i conformation of the inner border of the 

 ring B, either permanent or temporary. 



II. That the surface of the rings A, B, and C, has shown a 

 mottled or cloudy appearance on the aosse during the last four 



