70. Jupiter is surrounded by faint substances, called _Belts_, in which so many changes appear, that they are generally thought to be clouds: for some of them have been first interrupted and broken, and then have vanished entirely. They have sometimes been observed of different breadths, and afterwards have all become nearly of the same breadth. Large spots have been seen in these Belts; and when a Belt vanishes, the contiguous spots disappear with it. The broken ends of some Belts have been generally observed to revolve in the same time with the spots; only those nearer the Equator in somewhat less time than those near the Poles; perhaps on account of the Sun’s greater heat near the Equator, which is parallel to the Belts and course of the spots. Several large spots, which appear round at one time, grow oblong by degrees, and then divide into two or three round spots. The periodical time of the spots near the Equator is 9 hours 50 minutes, but of those near the Poles 9 hours 56 minutes. _See Dr._ SMITH_’s Optics_, § 1004 _& seq._ [Sidenote: He has no change of seasons;] 71. The Axis of Jupiter is so nearly perpendicular to his Orbit, that he has no sensible change of seasons; which is a great advantage, and wisely ordered by the Author of Nature. For, if the Axis of this Planet were inclined any considerable number of degrees, just so many degrees round each Pole would in their turn be almost six of our years together in darkness. And, as each degree of a great Circle on Jupiter contains 706 of our miles at a mean rate, it is easy to judge what vast tracts of land would be rendered uninhabitable by any considerable inclination of his Axis. [Sidenote: But has four Moons.] 72. The Sun appears but 1/28 part so big to Jupiter as to us; and his light and heat are in the same small proportion, but compensated by the quick returns thereof, and by four Moons (some bigger and some less than our Earth) which revolve about him: so that there is scarce any part of this huge Planet but what is during the whole night enlightened by one or more of these Moons, except his Poles, whence only the farthest Moons can be seen, and where their light is not wanted, because the Sun constantly circulates in or near the Horizon, and is very probably kept in view of both Poles by the Refraction of Jupiter’s Atmosphere, which, if it be like ours, has certainly refractive power enough for that purpose. [Sidenote: Their periods round Jupiter. Their grand period.]