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Marvels of the Universe 



But the discoverj- that Saturn is surrounded by a ring, onl}- solved a part of the strange puzzle. 

 There remained the further problem — What is the ring ? Is it solid, liquid or gaseous ? Is it 

 stationary, or is it in perpetual revolution round the planet ? Such questions could onh' be 

 answered by mathematicians, and amongst the great names associated with the story at this point 

 must be mentioned that of James Clerk Maxwell, who, in 1857. found that the ring must be com- 

 posed of a great number of Uttle separate bodies, each one pursuing its own path in accordance 

 with Kepler's laws of planetary motion. Of what size these bodies are no man knows, for they are 

 far beyond the reach of the most powerful telescope we can ever hope to make. 



Saturn's ring is far more complex than was at first supposed. Thus, amongst other details, 

 there is a strong dark line or gap dividing it in two, and then there is a very mysterious- 

 looking, faintly- luminous ring commonly known as the " crape " ring, between the bright one and 

 the ball. This latter is partlj' transparent, so it is likely that the particles composing it are less 

 densely packed than elsewhere, and permit the body of the planet to be seen between them. 



Saturn is accompanied by ten satellites, the most distant of which adds yet more to the 

 mystery of this marvellous system by revolving in a direction contrarj' to that of all her fellows. 



The coloured plate shows us how Saturn would look could we be transported to one of his 

 satellites and view the globe and rings at close quarters. Another of the illustrations gives us a 

 picture of the rings as seen from above the planet's clouds at midnight in the summer time. Not 

 on earth is it given to man to behold so glorious a spectacle as that gigantic arch spanning the 

 sky, and illuminating the cloudscape below with its soft radiance. 



SATURN'S PHASES. 



In this diasram the different appearances of Saturn as seen from the Earth are explained. The planet follows the course 

 indicated by the dotted line. The central sphere is. of course, the Sun. and the Earth is a little higher and to the right. 



