SCIENCE is the knowledge of any thing, founded on certain principles, and established by sufficient proofs or demonstrations.

The science of astronomy treats of the stars, and what are called the heavenly bodies.

That part of astronomy which alludes to the sun and the planets, is called the solar system.

The solar system considers the sun as being placed in or near the centre, and the planets (with their moons) moving round the sun in circular or elliptical orbits.

There are seven planets which move round the sun in different lengths of time, according as they are nearer o farther from that luminary.

The names of the planets are Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and Herschell. To which may be added four smaller ones, called asteroids, namely Vesta, Juno, Pallas, and Ceres.

The sun is computed to be more than a million times larger than the earth on which we live. It is an immense

SPELL Science; knowledge; principles; sufficient; demonstrations; astronomy; system; centre; circular; elliptical; lengths; luminary; define it. Spell Mercury; Jupiter; Saturn; Herschell; asteroids

́globe, or body of light. The rays or particles of light fly from the sun in rapid succession, and in every direction. The sun thus gives light to all the planets, and to their

moons.

The diameter of the sun is reckoned to be more than eight hundred and eighty-five thousand miles. Surely nothing but the unlimited power of God could produce suca an immense globe of light!

THE PLANETS.

Planets are dark bodies or globes, which receive their light from the sun.

MERCURY, the planet nearest to the sun, is about thirtyseven nions of miles from it.

Mercury is the smallest of all the seven planets. It revolves round the sun in about three months, and turns round on its own axis once in about twenty-four hours.

VENUS is about sixty-eight millions of miles from the sun. It turns round on its axis in about twenty-four hours; making its days and nights about as long as ours.

Venus moves round the sun in its orbit, in seven months and a half, which makes the length of its year.

When Venus is seen in the east before the sun rises, it is called the morning star; but when it is seen in the west after sun-set, it is called the evening star. It appears larger than any of the planets, because it is nearer to us: but its diameter is less than eight thousand miles.

The EARTH is ninety-five millions of miles from the sun,

million; immense; define it. Spell succession; direction; diameter; define it. Spell reckoned; unlimited; rapid; system; bodies; solar; established; receive; Mercury; millions; axis; Venus; orbit define it. Spell diameter; travels; minute; circumference; define it.

and travels round him in three hundred and sixty-five days and a quarter, which makes our year.

The earth moves in its orbit round the sun, at the rate of more than a thousand miles every minute; that is, about sixty-four thousand miles in an hour.

The diameter of the earth is about eight thousand miles, and its circumference about twenty-five thousand. It turns round on its own axis once in twenty-four hours, which makes day and night.

How great, how good, how wise, and powerful must be that Almighty Being who created the earth, the sun, the moon, and all the planets, and who sustains and preserves them all, in their rapid courses through the sky!

While contemplating on these stupendous works of the great Creator, with wonder and astonishment, let love and gratitude and adoration flow in our hearts, in the assurance that amongst all his mighty works, he remembers and regards every humble little child, and all the creatures he has made.

MARS is next the earth, and is one hundred and fortyfour millions of miles from the sun. It revolves round the sun once in about two years, and turns on its own axis once in about twenty-four hours.

Mars is a little more than four thousand miles in diameter, and it moves in its orbit round the sun, at the rate of about fifty-five thousand miles in an hour.

Mars is of a dusky red colour, and not so bright as Venus or Jupiter.

The asteroids come next to Mars in the solar system; but they are so small as seldom to be seen with the naked eye, without a telescope.

Spell powerful; Almighty; created; sustains; rapid; contemplating courses; stupendous; define it. Spell astonishment; gratitude; adoration; assurance; hearts; amongst; creatures; colour; system;

JUPITER is about eighty-nine thousand miles in diameter; being upwards of a thousand times larger than the earth. It .s four hundred and ninety millions of miles from the sun, and it has four moons revolving round it. These moons, as well as Jupiter, receive their light from the sun, and reflect it in the same manner as our moon does.

Jupiter moves round the sun in its orbit, once in about twelve of our years. Jupiter's year is therefore twelve times as long as ours; but its days are shorter than ours, for it turns round on its axis in less than ten hours.

Jupiter is the brightest planet next to Venus, especially when it is nearly opposite to the sun.

The next planet in the solar system is SATURN, which is at the vast distance of nine hundred millions of miles from

the sun.

Saturn performs its journey round the sun in about thirty years; its year is therefore as long as thirty of ours.

The diameter of Saturn is computed to be about seventyeight thousand miles, being next to Jupiter in size.

Besides seven moons which move round Saturn in different lengths of time, it is also surrounded by an immense ring, or rather by two rings of a bright appearance. These rings also turn round the planet, at some distance from it, from west to east, in about ten hours, which is nearly the same time that Saturn turns on its own axis.

HERSCHELL, the seventh planet, is at the immense distance of eighteen hundred millions of miles from the sun. Its year, or the time in which it performs its revolution round the sun, consists of about eighty-four of our years.

There are six moons, or satellites, which move round this

asteroids; telescope; revolving; receive; especially; opposite; Saturn; journey; lengths; surrounded; immense; bright; planet appearance; distance; Herschell; revolution; satellites; comets

planet; but it is not yet known how long Herschell is in turning round on its own axis.

COMETS, like the planets, also revolve round the sun; but. as they move in very eccentric ellipses, they are visible to us only when they are in that part of their orbit nearest to the sun.

Comets, after passing round the sun, often have a tail or beard which reflects light-but their motion is so rapid, that they soon become invisible to us.

All the planets, with their moons, are supposed to be bodies like our earth; on which there may be innumerable multitudes of men, women, and children, and various other animals and living creatures, enjoying life and happiness.

It is supposed by some, that those planets nearest the sun, have a greater portion of light and heat than those which are remote, or farther off. Be this as it may,-there can be no doubt that the benevolent Creator, in forming worlds of matter, and diffusing life and happiness among his creatures, has wisely adapted them to their habitations, or places of abode, and bountifully supplied them with proper degrees of light and heat, and all the blessings of his goodness, needful for their state of existence, and for their comfort and happiness.

ccentric; ellipses; visible; invisible; innumerable; multitudes; various; women; creatures; enjoying; benevolent; diffusing; adapted; habitations; bountifully; existence; happiness.