| Show ir i I 1 mercury and venus generally now admit that the more recent studies of tho planets mercury and venus tend to confirm opinion advanced somo years ago that both of them tam on their abea once while revolving about tho sun this however is a very difficult point to settle with certainty the reason given for this being and very plausibly that tho rests upon observation of abo exceedingly faint markings upon tho disks of the planets tho fact being that very few astronomers tron omers have ever been them at all with distinctness and only those who have made a most persistent study of them and are favored with vision especially sensitive to such details are competent to express an opinion as to their correct interpretation it is argued that if as held by some the rotation and revolution periods are tho same bo a correct opinion then tho climatic conditions of the two planets must be most remarkable furthermore our moon always shows the samo faco to the earth and no knowledge exists of the hidden part nor bavo the supposed inhabitants of that concealed hemisphere ever seen the earth this however is of no importance to them as tho earth is not the of light heat and life on the moon all parts of tho moon are brought under the suns influence just as all parts of tho earth though the day and night aro 14 times as long as on the earth but how it must bo on a planet which has one bido only exposed to the sun astronomers can give no answer exchange |
