FORMATION OF A NEW WORLD

Bruce Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 1207, 28 May 1880, Page 5

FORMATION OF A NEW WORLD

To a prominent scientist of San Francisco the * Alta California ' is indebted for the following account of a strange astronomical disturbance. The phenomena were first observed from the Alleghany Observatory, by Professors Langley and F. W. Very, during the fourth week of last June. While taking an observation of Jupiter it was noticed that some terrific local action had taken place in a spot beneath the red belt of the monstrous planet, and that the vaporous envelope had been ruptured. Thus one of the largest of Jupiter's belts was torn from its direct influence, and was at liberty to thunder through space in any way that might suit the eccentric fancy of such a heavenly trifle. Professor Very reports that he saw the actual surface of Jupiter through the rent in the belt, a sight that is pronounced wonderfully rare. To this the non-scien-tific may attach no importance, the aforesaid non-scientist not clearly understanding the difficulty of getting a good, square, bonafide look at Jupiter's surface. A brief explanation of Jupiter's precise position in the matter is therefore in order. The planet in question is thebiggesfcin our planetary system, and is fifth in order of distance from the sun, barring the primary members of the system,, which are scientifically counted out. It is considerable of a traveller, and independent of fractions, maintains a mean distance of something like a trifle of 475,692,000tu15. from the sun. Like all well-regulated tourists it is not in much of a hurry, and completes its year in 4332 days. The country is not likely to encourage immigration for anniversary celebration, yet it is not without its good features. Its volume is 1235 times as great as that of our earth, but is composed of lighter material, the density being only one quarter that of this globe, and its actual mass only exceeding ours by 301 times. There is much other interesting information, about Jupiter's equator and polar axis, which is succinctly stated ! in all modern cyclopedias. The first appearance of Jupiter's disc has resulted in the scientific conclusion that he is enveloped in a deep, vaporous atmosphere, exhorbitantly charged with masses of clouds, more or less material in composition. This atmosphere is divided in broad bands, or belts, alternately light and dark, systematically laid across the disc, and generally agreeing with the latitude parallels of the planet. These belts are subject to magnificent changes of color, the clouds which go to make up the various belts appearing to be decreed to some violent agitation by powerful forces, causing transformations which have not yet been explicitly accounted for. It is one of these vast belts that has been playing pranks with the constitution of the universe, and promises to make a heap of trouble in the family, unless astronomy provides a speedy remedy. As already stated, on the 26th of last June, while Professors Langley and Veiy had their eyes screwed to improved patterns of the long-range telescope, they saw that the equatorial belt of Jupiter had parted, and was tearing itself away from old associations, with every prospect of getting aloug in the world. Its color was beautifully vivid, glowing like a coke fire in December, or a cardinal red stocking at a Sunday picnic. The resemblance was sufficient to demand the religiously devoted attention of both the gentlemen, and they since have taken eight accurate drawings of the phenomena, which show that the cloud-fissure is gradually widening, caused by the regressive action of the belt from the planet, the ends gradually uncurling, and the whole thing showing a strong desire, so soon as sufficiently unfolded, to shoot away by itself and become a comparatively independent institution. Jupiter now possesses several satellites for which no entirely satisfactory account has been given, owing to the fact that they existed before astronomy was made a direct science, and no authentic information bus been received from the select circle of friends present at the birth. The present offspring, however, is carefully shadowed and is anxiously watched with the idea that it will become a new world, though not immediately available for either a penal or a Chinese colony. The scientific conclusion is that, as soon as freed from the planet, this wayward belt will begin, on the nebula) hypothesis, to roll up like a scroll, and gradually contract its coils ; that they will meet, coalesce, solidify, and become a compact body, ready to throw its weight against that of the future astronomical knowledge. Meanwhile, the bright central space is crossed by dark, irregular bridges, slanting from southwest to northeast, the invariable direction of all oblique formations observed on Jupiter. Ihe whiter portions of the globe are displaying a wonderful reflective power. The dark bands appear to form an independent encircling envelope, and become Jess distinct toward the lights, but obey the law of celestial mechanics. This divine obedience is highly complimentary to Jupiter, and cannot fail to elicit universal admiration. Purple, brown, greenish, yellow, orange, and rosy tints are to be seen delicately marked upon the planet's surface, presenting an effect as picturesque as the observatory of a Chinese laundry on wash-day. The rosy tints which have got mixed up with the equatorial zone are attracting the close attention of astronomers, who are historically fond of the rosy. All these matters duly con-sidei-ed in their vast importance to generations yet unsuspected, cannot fail to impress the matter-of-fact American of

to-day with a gloomy thought of trouble ahead for his benighted country.