Student's Class Book of Astronomy

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1873 edition. Excerpt: ...be represented by a moderatesized Orange at a Distance of nearly l-4th of a mile; Saturn by a small Orange at a Distance of 2-5ths of a mile; Uranus by a full-sized Cherry or small Plum at a Distance of 3-4ths of a mile; and Neptune by a Good-sized Plum at a Distance of a mile and a quarter. On the same scale, an interval of six miles would represent the Aphelion Distance of Donati's Comet (1858). 18. Q. What are the Velocities of the Large Planets? A. Jupiter's orbital velocity per hour is 28,744 miles; Saturn's is 21,221 miles; that of Uranus is 14,963 and that of Neptune 11,958 miles. The velocity becomes less as the distance from the sun increases, because solar attraction can only control a given velocity at a given distance. 19. Q-Whatisthe Suris Apparent Size at these Planets? A. His Apparent Diameter, as seen from Jupiter, would only be 6' 10"; from Saturn 3' 22"; from Uranus 1'40"; and from Neptune' 1'4." That is, the sun's apparent breadth at Jupiter is about l-5th, at Saturn l-10th, at Uranus l-20th, and at Neptune l-30th of-what it is in our sky. Chapter V. ON COMETS AND METEORS. Comets havy stars) are so called from their "hairy" or hazy appearance when first seen. These mysterious Wanderers were long dreaded as omens of the direst calamities. To avert the wrath of Heaven, portended by a Comet in 837, Lou is I. of France set about building churches and monasteries, and, for a like purpose, the Western Churches were ordered to pray, " Lord save us from the Devil, the Turk, and the Comet," when all Europe was startled by that double disaster, the capture of Constantinople by the Turks and the appearance of the msgnificent Comet of 1456--since identified as Halley's. Bo late as 1832 the...