8. That the square-Contents of the Moon is nearly as large as that of the surfaces of Ceres, Vesta and Juno, taken together; and that it is larger than that of Pallas’ surface taken alone.
In order that you may be better able to compare, you will find on Plate No. [V]
1. The surfaces of the different Planets, all drawn upon the Sun’s surface; from which you may see, how much larger the Sun’s surface is than the surfaces of all the Planets and the Moon taken together.
2. The surface of the Earth compared to that of Mercury and Venus.
3. The Earth’s surface compared to that of the Four Asteroids Pallas, Ceres, Juno and Vesta.
4. Jupiter’s surface compared to those of all the other Planets.
5. The square-Contents of the Moon compared to the surfaces of Vesta, Juno and Ceres.
6. Herschel’s square-Contents compared to that of our Earth, Venus and Mercury taken together.
§ 13. The Four Planets, Ceres, Vesta, Juno, and Pallas, are so small in proportion to the other Planets, and are so near each other (they are almost at the same distance from the Sun—see Plate [II]) that many distinguished philosophers are of opinion, they are but the fragments of One large Planet, which, from some cause or other, has burst.—But this is no subject for us now to inquire into;—we will therefore proceed to describe in the next lesson, the motion of the different Planets round the Sun.
