Page:The sidereal messenger of Galileo Galilei.pdf/90

 Feb. 15 (for on the 14th the sky was covered with clouds), at the first hour, the position of the satellites was thus (Fig. 47); that is, there were three satellites on the east, but none were visible on the west. The satellite on the east nearest to Jupiter was at a distance of 0′ 50″ from the planet; the next in order was 0′ 20″ from this satellite, and the furthest to the east was 2′ from the second satellite, and it was larger than the others, for those nearer to Jupiter were very small. But about the fifth hour only one of the satellites which had been near to Jupiter was to be seen; its distance from Jupiter was 0′ 30″. The distance of the satellite furthest to the east from Jupiter had increased, for it was then 4′ (Fig. 48). But at the sixth hour, besides the two situated as just described on the east, one satellite was visible towards the west, very small, at a distance of 2′ from Jupiter (Fig. 49).

Feb. 16: 6 h.—Their places were arranged as follows (Fig. 50); that is, the satellite on the east was 7′ from Jupiter, Jupiter 5′ from the next satellite on the west, and this 3′ from the remaining satellite still further to the west. They were all of the same magnitude nearly, rather bright, and in the same straight line, corresponding accurately to the direction of the Zodiac.

Feb. 17: 1 h.—Two satellites were in view, one on