Popular lessons in astronomy, on a new plan

by Francis J. Grund

N^o. V.

RECAPITULATION OF LESSON II.

QUESTIONS.

[§ 8.] What are the names of the Eleven Planets in the order in which they are placed from the Sun? How many Planets are there between the Earth and the Sun? How many Planets come after our Earth? In what order then, is our Earth placed among the Planets? (Is it the first, second, etc. from the Sun)?

[§ 9.] How many satellites accompany our Earth? What is it called? How many satellites or Moons has Jupiter? How many has Saturn? How many has Herschel? By what is Saturn particularly distinguished from all other Planets?

[§ 10.] Are all Planets of the same magnitude as our Earth? Are the Planets in comparison to the Sun large or small bodies?—Is the Sun much larger than any of the Planets? Is the Sun larger or smaller than all the Planets, including our Earth, taken together? Which is the greatest of all Planets? Which Planet ranks, in magnitude, next to Jupiter? Which of the Planets ranks third in magnitude? Which, Fourth? What Planets are smaller than our Earth? What Planets are smaller than the Moon?

[§ 11.] What do you call the Diameter of a ball or sphere? Is the Diameter of the Sun larger or smaller than the Diameters of all the Planets taken together?

The teacher may yet ask a number of questions respecting the Diameters of the Planets, which the pupil will be able to answer by looking on Plate [III]. He may, for instance, ask whether the Diameter of the Earth is larger or smaller than that of Venus? Whether the Diameter of Jupiter or Saturn is the largest, etc.? This will oblige the pupil to compare the different magnitudes of the Planets and their Diameters.

[§ 12.] What proportion does the square-Contents of the Sun’s surface bear to that of the surfaces of all the Planets? What two Planets have together a surface nearly as large as that of our Earth? Are the surfaces of Ceres, Vesta, Juno and Pallas taken together sufficient or not, to cover the surface of our Earth? What Planets, therefore, could be covered with the Earth’s surface? Which Planet has the largest surface? What do you observe with regard to the square-Contents of Jupiter’s surface? and that of the surfaces of all other Planets, taken together? What Planet’s surface comes next in magnitude to Jupiter’s? What Planet’s surface is larger than that of our Earth, Venus and Mercury taken together? What three Planets’ surfaces taken together are smaller than that of the Moon? What Planet has nearly as large a surface as the Moon?

[§ 13.] What is the opinion of philosophers respecting the Four Planets, Ceres, Vesta, Juno and Pallas?