CORRESPONDENCE.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume V, Issue 274, 21 November 1870, Page 2

CORRESPONDENCE.

JUPITEIi'S SATELLITES. To the Editor of the Nelson Evening .Mail. Sir, — Permit me through your columns to call attention to the great brilliancy of Jupiter's satellites. Two of these interesting objects are frequently apparent while the others are obscured. Direct observation by the uuassisted eye may fail to detect them amidst ihe diizzling rays of Jupiter, but any one by looking in an ordinary mirror at the reflected image of this planet may clearly perceive the two appareut satellites. Whether their extreme brilliaucy at the present time is to be attributed to lunar inftueuce,or to the abnormal transparency of tbe atmosphere caused by lhe long drought, or to the gradual apparent transposition of the heavenly bodies in couseqnence of the precession\>f the equinoxes, is an interesting subject for inquiry well worthy of the attention, not only of the Meteorological Registrar, and the members of the Scientific lustitute, but of the

general public. Jupiter rises above the hills at about 10 o'clock, and the two apparent satellites may be observed iu close proximity to it, one shining rather more brightly than the olher. Any common looking-glass will show them upon any clear evening during the present week, and those who have nerer seen these bright attendants upou great Jove would do well not to lose au opportunity which may not occur again. I am, &c, Star Gazer. Stoke, Nov. 21, 1870.