Has Venus a Moon ?

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1985, 28 March 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

Has Venus a Moon ?

It is not impossible that a new planet has been discovered, a very small member of the Holar ayatem, revolving outside of tho orbit of Venus and near her domain. M. Houzeau, the director of the new observatory al Brussels, an astronomer and writer of renown, has an ingenious theory whioh will be entitled to careful consideration as coming from the pen of a distinguished man of science. There was formerly a general belief that our f&ir neighbor was, like the earth, accompanied by a satellite, and one of the first obobjecta looked for after the invention of the telescope was the moon of Venus. Seven times at least since that important event a small objeot has been Been near Venu-i, presenting a similar phase and bearing evidence of being a satellite of the bright planet. The first observation was made in 1710, and the last in 17G1. During the 120 years that have passed since, though diligent searoh has been unremitting, no vestige of the mythioal moon has been found. M. Houzeau has revived the theme by the presentation of a curious and somewhat startling theory upon the following basis : A pUnet revolves around the sun, outside of Venus and near to her. It is very small in dimensions, and is possible an esoapad satellite. Neith is the name given to the little planet, in honor of the myateroua goddess Sfiis, whose veil no mortal has raised. — Scientific American.

A Geioun meteorologist has discovered an aooount of phenomena resembling the recent sky-glows in a work written by a Flemish physician, H. Brucrcus, in the ye&r 1570. This, we believe, ia the oldest referenoe to anything of the kind thus far discovered in literature.