Page:The sidereal messenger of Galileo Galilei.pdf/87

 The nearest to Jupiter, a rather small one, was distant from the planet 1′ 20″; the middle one was 4′ from this satellite, and was rather large; the satellite furthest to the east, a very small one, was at a distance of 0′ 20″ from this satellite. It was doubtful whether there was one satellite near to Jupiter or two, for sometimes it seemed that there was another satellite by its side towards the east, wonderfully small, and only 10″ from it. They were all situated at points in a straight line drawn in the direction of the Zodiac. At the third hour the satellite nearest to Jupiter was almost touching the planet, for it was only distant 10″ from it; but the others had become further off, for the middle one was 6′ from Jupiter. At length, at the fourth hour, the satellite which was previously the nearest to Jupiter joined with the planet and disappeared.

Feb. 9: 0 h. 30 m.—There were two satellites on the east side of Jupiter, and one on the west, in an arrangement such as this (Fig. 40). The satellite furthest to the east, which was a rather small one, was distant 4′ from the next satellite; the satellite in the middle was larger, and at a distance of 7′ from Jupiter. Jupiter was distant 4′ from the western satellite, which was a small one.

Feb. 10: 1h. 30 m—A pair of satellites, very small, and both on the east of the planet, were