In recent work, entitled "The New Theory of Creation and Deluge," it is predicted Uat, at some future time, the fluid rings of Saturn may descend and deluge the planet, Bous was deluged in the days of Noah. Sir David Brewster says:-" Mr. Otto Struve and Mr. Bond have lately studied with the great Munich telescope at the Observatory of Pulkoway, the third ring of Saturn, which Mr. Dassels and Mr. Bond discovered to be fid. These astronomers are of opinion that this fluid ring is not of very recent formation, and that it is not subject to rapid change, and they have come to the extraordary conclusion that the inner border of the ring has, since the time of Huygens, been gradually approaching the body of Saturn, and that we may expect, sooner or ster, perhaps in some dozen of years, to see the rings united with the body of the planet."

504. The rings of Saturn serve as reflectors to reflect the light of the Sun upon his disc, as our Moon reflects the light to the Earth. In his nocturnal sky, they must appear like two gorgeous arches of light, bright as the full moon, and spanning the whole heavens like a stupendous rainbow.

In the annexed cut, the beholder is supposed to be situated some 30° north of the equator o Saturn, and looking directly south. The shadow of the planet is seen travelling up the arch as the night advances, while a New Moon is shown in the west, and a Full Moon in the east at the зame time.

NIGHT SCHNE UPON SATURN.

505. The two rings united are nearly 13 times as wide as the diameter of the Moon; and the nearest is only th as far from the planet as the Moon is from us.

The two rings united are 27,500 miles wide; which+2160 the moon's diameter=127. 30 240,000 miles, the Moon's distance + 19,000 the distance of Saturn's interior ring=1212.

At the distance of only 19,000 miles, our Moon would appear some forty times as large as she does at her present distance. How magnificent and inconceivably grand, then, must these vast rings appear, with a thousand times the Moon's magnitude, and only one-twelfth part of her distance!

506. The periodic time of Saturn being nearly thirty years, his motion eastward among the stars must be very slow, amounting to only 12° a year, or one sign in 24 years. It will be easy, therefore, having once ascertained his position, to watch his slow progress eastward year after year, as he performs his vast circuit around the heavens,

MOONS OF SATURN.

507. Besides the magnificent rings already described, th telescope reveals eight satellites or moons, revolving around Saturn. But these are seen only with good instruments, and under favorable circumstances.

804. What purpose do the rings of Saturn serve? How appear in his evening sky? 505. Width of two rings, as compared with Moon? Distance? Demonstrate both. How would our Moon appear at the listance of Saturn's rings? 506. Eastward motion of Saturn? How traced? 507. Moons of Saturn? How seen? Best time for observing?

SATELLITES OF SATURY.

The best time for observing them is when the planet is at his equinoxes, and his rings are nearly invisible.

In January, 1849, the author saw five

of these satellites, as represented in the adjoining cut. The rings appeared only as a line of light extending each way from the planet, and the satellites were in the direction of the line, at different distances, as here represented

508. These satellites all revolve eastward with the rings of the planet, in orbits nearly circular, and, with the exception of the eighth, in the plane of the rings. Their mean distances, respectively, from the planet's center are from 123,000 to 2,366,000 miles; and their periods from 22 hours to 79 days, according to their distances.

The distances and periods of the satellites of Saturn are as follows:

509. The most distant of these satellites is the largest, sup posed to be about the size of Mars; and the remainder grow smaller as they are nearer the primary. They are seldom eclipsed, on account of the great inclination of their orbits to the ecliptic, except twice in thirty years, when the rings are edgewise toward the Sun. The eighth satellite, which has been studied more than all the rest, is known to revolve once upon its axis during every periodic revolution; from which it is inferred that they all revolve on their respective axis in the same manner.

508. The revolutions? Shape and position of their orbits? Distances from their pr mary? 503. Comparative size?

Que opposite side; and the moons, revolving in the plane of the rings, must pass through the shadow at every revolution. The eighth, however, may sometimes escape, on account of his departure from the plane of the rings, as shown in the cut.

510. The theory of the satellites of Saturn is less perfect than than that of the satellites of Jupiter. The difficulty of observ ing their eclipses, and of measuring their elongations from their primary, have prevented astronomers from determining, with their usual precision, their mean distances and revolutions. But of this we are certain: there is no planet in the solar system, whose firmament presents such a variety of splendid and mag nificent objects as that of Saturn.

The various aspects of the seven moons, one rising above the horizon, while another is setting, and a third approaching to the meridian; one entering into an eclipse, and another emerging from one; one appearing as a crescent, and another with a gibbous phase; and sometimes the whole of them shining in the saine hemisphere, in one bright assemblage! The majestic motion of the rings-at one time illuminating the sky with their splendor, and eclipsing the stars; at another, casting a deep shade over certain regions of the planet, and unveiling to view the wonders of the starry firmament, arc scenes worthy of the majesty of the Divine Being to unfold, and of rational creatures to contemplate.

Such displays of Wisdom and Omnipotence, lead us to conclude that the numerous splendid objects connected with this planet, were not created merely to shed their luster on naked rocks and barren sands; but that an immense population of intelligent being is placed in those regions, to enjoy the bounty, and adore the goodness, of their great Creator.

CHAPTER VIII.

PRIMARY PLANETS.-URANUS AND NEPTUNE.

but

511. URANUS is the next planet in order from the Sun, beyond or above Saturn. To the naked eye, it appears like a star of only the 6th or 7th magnitude, and of a pale, bluish white; it can seldom be seen, except in a very fine, clear night, and in the absence of the Moon. Through a telescope, he exhibits a small, round, uniformly illuminated disc, without rings, belts, or from discernible spots. His apparent diameter is about 4", which he never varies much, owing to the smallness of our orbit in comparison with his own.

510. Is the system of Saturn well understood? Why not? Of what are we sure! What scenes must it present? To what conclusion must these phenomena lead 281 511. Position and appearance: Uranus? Through a telescope !

Sir John Herschel says he is without discernible spots, and yet in his cables he lays down the time of the planet's rotation (which could only be ascertained by the rotation of spots upon the planet's disc), at 9 hours. This time is probably given on the Authority of Schroeter, and is marked as doubtful by Dr. Herschel.

512. The motion of Uranus in longitude is still slower than that of Saturn. It moves over but one degree of its orbit in 85 days; hence he will be seven years in passing over one sign or constellation. His periodic time being 84 years 27 days, his eastward motion can amount to only about 4° 17' in a whole year. To detect this motion requires instruments and close observations. At this date (1866), Uranus has made the entire circuit of the heavens since his discovery in 1781; having passed, in 1865, the point where he was first seen, and being now upon his second known journey around the heavens.

It is remarkable that this body was observed as far back as 1690. It was seen three times by Flamstead, once by Bradley, once by Mayer, and eleven times by Lemonnier, who registered it among the stars; but not one of them suspected it to be a planet.

513. The inequalities in the motions of Jupiter and Saturn, which could not be accounted for from the mutual attractions of these planets, led astronomers to suppose that there existed another planet beyond the orbit of Saturn, by whose action. these irregularities were produced. This conjecture was confirmed March 13th, 1781, when Dr. Herschel discovered the motions of this body, and thus proved it to be a planet.

514. The mean distance of Uranus from the Sun is 1,828,000,000 of miles; more than twice the mean distance of Saturn. His sidereal revolution is performed in 84 years and 1 month, and his motion in his orbit is 15,600 miles an hour. He is supposed to have a rotation on his axis, in common with the other planets; but astronomers have not yet been able to obtain any ocular proof of such a motion

515. His diameter is estimated at 36,000 miles; which would make his volume more than 80 times larger than the Earth's. To his inhabitants, the Sun appears only the part as large as he does to us; and of course they receive from him only that small proportion of light and heat. It may be shown, however, that the part of the Sun's light exceeds the illuminating power of 800 full moons. This, added to the light they must receive from their six satellites, will render their days and nights far from cheerless.

512. His motion in longitude? Periodic time? Angular motion per year? How far has he been traced since his discovery? When complete his revolution? Was he ever ceen previous to 1? By whom? Why are they not the discoverers, then? 518. Was his existence suspected previous to 1781 ? What ground for the suspicion? How proved to be a pianet? 514. Mean distance? Sidereal revolution? Hourly motion in orbit Rotation on axis? 515. Diameter ? Volur? Light and heat? Use of natollbes?

516. Uranus is attended by six moons or satellites, which revolve about him in different periods, and at various distances. Four of them were discovered by Sir William Herschel, and two by his sister, Miss Caroline Herschel. It is possible that others remain yet to be discovered.

Most of the satellites revolve from east to west around their primaries; but the satellites of Uranus are an exception to this rule. Their orbits are inclined to the plane of the ecliptic 79°, being little less than a right angle; and their motion in their orbits is retrograde, that is, from east to west.

The distance from the planet, and the periodic times of the satellites of Uranus, respectively, are as follows:

517 This is the most distant of the primary planets, and in some respects one of the most interesting. It is about 35,000 miles in diameter, is situated at the mean distance of 2,862,000,000 miles from the Sun, and revolves around him in 164 years. So remote is this newly-discovered member of the solar system, that for a body to reach it, moving at railroad speed, or 30 miles an hour, would require more than twenty thousand years!

518. The circumstances of the discovery of this planet are at once interesting and remarkable. Such is the regularity of the planetary motions, that astronomers are enabled to predict, with great accuracy, their future places in the heavens, and to construct tables, exhibiting their positions for ages to come. Soon after the discovery of Uranus, in 1781, his orbit was computed, and a table constructed for determining his future positions in the heavens, but instead of following the prescribed path, or occupying his estimated positions, he was found to be yielding to some mysterious and unaccountable influence, under which he was gradually leaving his computed orbit, and failing to meet conditions of the tables.

516. Number of Moons? By whom discovered? Is it certain that Uranus has six Entellites? Why doubtful? 517. Distance and diameter of Neptune? Period? How long to pass from the Sun to it at railroad speed? 518. What remarkable circum stances respecting its discovery? Perturbation?