There are other planets also, besides the Earth and the Moon, belonging to the Sun: such as Venus, and Mars, and Jupiter. None of these planets are Stars. They are all Worlds. QUESTIONS. 1. What shape is the Sun? Like the Earth and the Moon, a globe or sphere in shape. 2. What is the Sun’s diameter? The Sun is about 850,000 miles through. 3. Why do the Sun and Moon seem about the same size in our sky? Because the Moon is very near, and the Sun very distant. 4. How far off is the Sun? About 92 millions of miles. 5. What would be the sizes of these three globes, if we let one inch stand for 2,000 miles? The Moon would be a ball one inch in diameter; the Earth a ball four inches in diameter; the Sun a ball thirty-five feet in diameter. 6. What would be their distances, brought down thus? The Moon would be about ten feet off from the Earth, and the Sun would be about three-quarters of a mile from them both. 7. How many thousands of miles make a million miles? A thousand thousands. 8. How does the Moon shine? By reflecting Sunlight. 9. How does the Sun shine? By his own brightness. 10. Which part of Moon and Sun are bright? The Moon, like the Earth, is bright only on that side which faces the Sun; but the Sun is brilliant all round. 11. Is the Sun a World? No, the Sun is a Star. 12. Are the Planets Stars? No; the Planets, like Earth and Moon, are Worlds. CHAPTER IX. STORMS ON THE SUN. The Sun does not seem to change his shape as the Moon does. Looking upon him from our Earth, we see always a round shining body. Except when part of him is hidden because it has sunk below the horizon we never have a “half-Sun,” or a “quarter-Sun.” Sometimes he is high and sometimes low in the sky; but this is brought about by the Earth’s movements, not by any alteration in himself. Sometimes clouds drift between and hide him from us; yet behind the clouds he shines still. Sometimes mists arise and dim his radiance; but beyond the mist his glory is the same. When clouds move on and mists fade, the dazzling globe of light is found unchanged. There are no shadows on the Sun, like those dull markings which we all know so well upon the Moon. No shadows, only spots. Yes, the Sun actually has little black spots upon his face, not so very unlike the tiny patches with which ladies used to adorn themselves. A word of warning here! It is not safe to gaze straight at the Sun, trying to find these spots. When he is low down in the horizon, just before setting, he is not so dazzling, but at other times one ought to be very careful. If you want to look steadily at the Sun you should always use a piece of smoked or tinted glass to soften the glare. Without this you might hurt your eyes, or even in time make yourself blind. When looking through a telescope the danger and the need for care are doubly great.