79. He is surrounded by a thin broad Ring, as an artificial Globe is by
its Horizon. This Ring appears double when seen through a good
telescope, and is represented by the figure in such an oblique view as
it is generally seen. It is inclined 30 degrees to the Ecliptic, and is
about 21 thousand miles in breadth; which is equal to it’s distance from
Saturn on all sides. There is reason to believe that the Ring turns
round it’s Axis, because, when it is almost edge-wise to us, it appears
somewhat thicker on one side of the Planet than on the other; and the
thickest edge has been seen on different sides at different times. But
Saturn having no visible spots on his body, whereby to determine the
time of his turning round his Axis, the length of his days and nights,
and the position of his Axis, are unknown to us.
[Sidenote: His five Moons.