The Trouvelot astronomical drawings manualTrouvelot, E. L. (Etienne Leopold)
Science
The Trouvelot astronomical drawings manual
Trouvelot, E. L. (Etienne Leopold)
Astronomy -- Pictorial works
Astronomy, which is a science of observation, is naturally silent with
regard to the inhabitants of Jupiter. If there are any such inhabitants,
they are confined to the domain of conjecture, under the dense cloudy
envelope of the planet. The conditions of habitability on Jupiter must
differ very widely from those of our globe. Comparatively little direct
light from the Sun reaches the surface of the globe of Jupiter, except
that which passes through the narrow openings forming the dark clouds.
All the rest of the planet's surface, being covered perpetually by
opaque clouds, receives only diffused light. On Jupiter there are
practically no seasons, since its axis is nearly perpendicular to its
orbit. The force of gravity on the surface of Jupiter being more than
double what it is on the Earth, living bodies would there have more than
double the weight of similar bodies on the Earth. Furthermore, Jupiter
only receives 0.011 of the light and heat which we receive from the Sun;
and its year is nearly equal to 12 of our years. If there are living
beings on Jupiter, they must, then, be entirely different from any known
to us, and they may have forms never dreamed of in our most fantastic
conceptions.
The two round black spots represented towards the central parts of Plate
IX. are the shadows of the first and second satellite; while the two
round white spots seen on the left of the disk, are the satellites
themselves, as they appeared at the moment of the observation. The first
satellite and its shadow are the nearest to the equator; while the
second satellite and its shadow are higher, the last being projected on
the Great Red Spot.[2] The row of dark circular spots represented on the
northern, or lower hemisphere, when they first appeared, had some
resemblance to Sun-spots without a penumbra, with bright markings around
them, resembling faculæ. These round spots subsequently enlarged
considerably, until they united along the entire line, encircling the
planet, and finally forming a narrow pink belt, which is still visible.
[Footnote 2: By an accidental error in enlarging the original drawing,
the satellites and shadows appear in Plate IX. of double their actual
size. The error is one easy of mental correction.]
THE PLANET SATURN
PLATE X
Saturn, which is next to Jupiter in order of distance from the Sun,
while not the largest, is certainly the most beautiful and interesting
of all the planets, with his grand and unique system of rings, and his
eight satellites, which, like faithful servants, attend the planet's
interminable journey through space.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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