Page:Astronomy for Everybody.djvu/242

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PLANETS AND THEIR SATELLITES

With this view of what the shape of the rings really is, we may understand their appearance to us. The rings are always seen very obliquely, never at a greater angle than twenty-seven degrees. The general outline presented

Figs. 41–42.—Disappearance of the Rings of Saturn, according to Barnard, when seen edgewise.

by the planet and rings is that seen in Figure 40. The best views are obtained when the rings are seen at a considerable angle. The divisions and the crape ring are then seen. The shadow of the globe of the planet on the ring will be seen as a dark notch. A dark line cross-

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