The following day was the 1st of August, or, according to Rosette, the 63rd of April. In the course of this month Gallia would travel 16,500,000 leagues, attaining3 at the end a distance of 197,000,000 leagues from the sun. This would leave 81,000,000 leagues more to be traversed before reaching the aphelion4 of the 15th of January, after which it would begin once more to approach the sun.
But meanwhile, a marvelous world, never before so close within the range of human vision, was revealing itself. No wonder that Palmyrin Rosette cared so little to quit his observatory5; for throughout those calm, clear Gallian nights, when the book of the firmament6 lay open before him, he could revel7 in a spectacle which no previous astronomer8 had ever been permitted to enjoy.
The glorious orb9 that was becoming so conspicuous10 an object was none other than the planet Jupiter, the largest of all the bodies existing within the influence of solar attraction. During the seven months that had elapsed since its collision with the earth, the comet had been continuously approaching the planet, until the distance between them was scarcely more than 61,000,000 leagues, and this would go on diminishing until the 15th of October.
Under these circumstances, was it perfectly11 certain that no danger could accrue12? Was not Gallia, when its pathway led it into such close proximity13 to this enormous planet, running a risk of being attracted within its influence? Might not that influence be altogether disastrous14? The professor, it is true, in his estimate of the duration of his comet’s revolution, had represented that he had made all proper allowances for any perturbations that would be caused either by Jupiter, by Saturn15, or by Mars; but what if there were any errors in his calculations? what if there should be any elements of disturbance16 on which he had not reckoned?
Speculations17 of this kind became more and more frequent, and Lieutenant19 Procope pointed20 out that the danger incurred21 might be of a fourfold character: first, that the comet, being irresistibly22 attracted, might be drawn23 on to the very surface of the planet, and there annihilated24; secondly25, that as the result of being brought under that attraction, it might be transformed into a satellite, or even a sub-satellite, of that mighty26 world; thirdly, that it might be diverted into a new orbit, which would never be coincident with the ecliptic; or, lastly, its course might be so retarded27 that it would only reach the ecliptic too late to permit any junction28 with the earth. The occurrence of any one of these contingencies29 would be fatal to their hopes of reunion with the globe, from which they had been so strangely severed30.
To Rosette, who, without family ties which he had never found leisure or inclination31 to contract, had no shadow of desire to return to the earth, it would be only the first of these probabilities that could give him any concern. Total annihilation might not accord with his views, but he would be quite content for Gallia to miss its mark with regard to the earth, indifferent whether it revolved32 as a new satellite around Jupiter, or whether it wended its course through the untraversed regions of the milky33 way. The rest of the community, however, by no means sympathized with the professor’s sentiments, and the following month was a period of considerable doubt and anxiety.
On the 1st of September the distance between Gallia and Jupiter was precisely34 the same as the mean distance between the earth and the sun; on the 16th, the distance was further reduced to 26,000,000 leagues. The planet began to assume enormous dimensions, and it almost seemed as if the comet had already been deflected35 from its elliptical orbit, and was rushing on in a straight line towards the overwhelming luminary36.
The more they contemplated37 the character of this gigantic planet, the more they became impressed with the likelihood of a serious perturbation in their own course. The diameter of Jupiter is 85,390 miles, nearly eleven times as great as that of the earth; his volume is 1,387 times, and his mass 300 times greater; and although the mean density38 is only about a quarter of that of the earth, and only a third of that of water (whence it has been supposed that the superficies of Jupiter is liquid), yet his other proportions were large enough to warrant the apprehension39 that important disturbances40 might result from his proximity.
“I forget my astronomy, lieutenant,” said Servadac. “Tell me all you can about this formidable neighbor.”
The lieutenant having refreshed his memory by reference to Flammarion’s Recits de l’Infini, of which he had a Russian translation, and some other books, proceeded to recapitulate41 that Jupiter accomplishes his revolution round the sun in 4,332 days 14 hours and 2 minutes; that he travels at the rate of 467 miles a minute along an orbit measuring 2,976 millions of miles; and that his rotation42 on his axis43 occupies only 9 hours and 55 minutes.
“His days, then, are shorter than ours?” interrupted the captain.
“Considerably44,” answered the lieutenant, who went on to describe how the displacement45 of a point at the equator of Jupiter was twenty-seven times as rapid as on the earth, causing the polar compression to be about 2,378 miles; how the axis, being nearly perpendicular46, caused the days and nights to be nearly of the same length, and the seasons to be invariable; and how the amount of light and heat received by the planet is only a twenty-fifth part of that received by the earth, the average distance from the sun being 475,693,000 miles.
“And how about these satellites? Sometimes, I suppose, Jupiter has the benefit of four moons all shining at once?” asked Servadac.
Of the satellites, Lieutenant Procope went on to say that one is rather smaller than our own moon; that another moves round its primary at an interval47 about equal to the moon’s distance from ourselves; but that they all revolve in considerably less time: the first takes only l day 18 hours 27 minutes; the second takes 3 days 13 hours 14 minutes; the third, 7 days 3 hours 42 minutes; whilst the largest of all takes but 16 days 16 hours 32 minutes. The most remote revolves48 round the planet at a distance of 1,192,820 miles.
“They have been enlisted49 into the service of science,” said Procope. “It is by their movements that the velocity50 of light has been calculated; and they have been made available for the determination of terrestrial longitudes51.”
“It must be a wonderful sight,” said the captain.
“Yes,” answered Procope. “I often think Jupiter is like a prodigious52 clock with four hands.”
“I only hope that we are not destined53 to make a fifth hand,” answered Servadac.
Such was the style of the conversation that was day by day reiterated54 during the whole month of suspense55. Whatever topic might be started, it seemed soon to settle down upon the huge orb that was looming56 upon them with such threatening aspect.
“The more remote that these planets are from the sun,” said Procope, “the more venerable and advanced in formation are they found to be. Neptune57, situated58 2,746,271,000 miles from the sun, issued from the solar nebulosity, thousands of millions of centuries back. Uranus59, revolving60 1,753,851,000 miles from the center of the planetary system, is of an age amounting to many hundred millions of centuries. Jupiter, the colossal61 planet, gravitating at a distance of 475,693,000 miles, may be reckoned as 70,000,000 centuries old. Mars has existed for 1,000,000,000 years at a distance of 139,212,000 miles. The earth, 91,430,000 miles from the sun, quitted his burning bosom62 100,000,000 years ago. Venus, revolving now 66,131,000 miles away, may be assigned the age of 50,000,000 years at least; and Mercury, nearest of all, and youngest of all, has been revolving at a distance of 35,393,000 miles for the space of 10,000,000 years — the same time as the moon has been evolved from the earth.”
Servadac listened attentively63. He was at a loss what to say; and the only reply he made to the recital64 of this novel theory was to the effect that, if it were true, he would prefer being captured by Mercury than by Jupiter, for Mercury, being so much the younger, would probably prove the less imperative65 and self-willed master.
It was on the 1st of September that the comet had crossed the orbit of Jupiter, and on the 1st of October the two bodies were calculated to be at their minimum separation. No direct shock, however, could be apprehended66; the demonstration67 was sufficiently68 complete that the orbit of Gallia did not coincide with that of the planet, the orbit of Jupiter being inclined at an angle of 1 degrees 19 mins to the orbit of the earth, with which that of Gallia was, no doubt, coincident.
As the month of September verged69 towards its close, Jupiter began to wear an aspect that must have excited the admiration70 of the most ignorant or the most indifferent observer. Its salient points were illumined with novel and radiant tints71, and the solar rays, reflected from its disc, glowed with a mingled72 softness and intensity73 upon Gallia, so that Nerina had to pale her beauty.
Who could wonder that Rosette, enthusiast74 as he was, should be irremovable from his observatory? Who could expect otherwise than that, with the prospect75 before him of viewing the giant among planets, ten times nearer than any mortal eye had ever done, he should have begrudged76 every moment that distracted his attention?
Meanwhile, as Jupiter grew large, the sun grew small.
From its increased remoteness the diameter of the sun’s disc was diminished to 5 degrees 46 mins.
And what an increased interest began to be associated with the satellites! They were visible to the naked eye! Was it not a new record in the annals of science?
Although it is acknowledged that they are not ordinarily visible on earth without the aid of a somewhat powerful telescope, it has been asserted that a favored few, endued77 with extraordinary powers of vision, have been able to identify them with an unassisted eye; but here, at least, in Nina’s Hive were many rivals, for everyone could so far distinguish them one from the other as to describe them by their colors. The first was of a dull white shade; the second was blue; the third was white and brilliant; the fourth was orange, at times approaching to a red. It was further observed that Jupiter itself was almost void of scintillation.
Rosette, in his absorbing interest for the glowing glories of the planet, seemed to be beguiled78 into comparative forgetfulness of the charms of his comet; but no astronomical79 enthusiasm of the professor could quite allay80 the general apprehension that some serious collision might be impending81.
Time passed on. There was nothing to justify82 apprehension. The question was continually being asked, “What does the professor really think?”
“Our friend the professor,” said Servadac, “is not likely to tell us very much; but we may feel pretty certain of one thing: he wouldn’t keep us long in the dark, if he thought we were not going back to the earth again. The greatest satisfaction he could have would be to inform us that we had parted from the earth for ever.”
“I trust from my very soul,” said the count, “that his prognostications are correct.”
“The more I see of him, and the more I listen to him,” replied Servadac, “the more I become convinced that his calculations are based on a solid foundation, and will prove correct to the minutest particular.”
Ben Zoof here interrupted the conversation. “I have something on my mind,” he said.
“Something on your mind? Out with it!” said the captain.
“That telescope!” said the orderly; “it strikes me that that telescope which the old professor keeps pointed up at yonder big sun is bringing it down straight upon us.”
The captain laughed heartily83.
“Laugh, captain, if you like; but I feel disposed to break the old telescope into atoms.”
“Ben Zoof,” said Servadac, his laughter exchanged for a look of stern displeasure, “touch that telescope, and you shall swing for it!”
The orderly looked astonished.
“I am governor here,” said Servadac.
Ben Zoof knew what his master meant, and to him his master’s wish was law.
The interval between the comet and Jupiter was, by the 1st of October, reduced to 43,000,000 miles. The belts all parallel to Jupiter’s equator were very distinct in their markings. Those immediately north and south of the equator were of a dusky hue84; those toward the poles were alternately dark and light; the intervening spaces of the planet’s superficies, between edge and edge, being intensely bright. The belts themselves were occasionally broken by spots, which the records of astronomy describe as varying both in form and in extent.
The physiology85 of belts and spots alike was beyond the astronomer’s power to ascertain86; and even if he should be destined once again to take his place in an astronomical congress on the earth, he would be just as incapable87 as ever of determining whether or no they owed their existence to the external accumulation of vapor88, or to some internal agency. It would not be Professor Rosette’s lot to enlighten his brother savants to any great degree as to the mysteries that are associated with this, which must ever rank as one of the most magnificent amongst the heavenly orbs89.
As the comet approached the critical point of its career it cannot be denied that there was an unacknowledged consciousness of alarm. Mutually reserved, though ever courteous90, the count and the captain were secretly drawn together by the prospect of a common danger; and as their return to the earth appeared to them to become more and more dubious91, they abandoned their views of narrow isolation92, and tried to embrace the wider philosophy that acknowledges the credibility of a habitable universe.
But no philosophy could be proof against the common instincts of their humanity; their hearts, their hopes, were set upon their natural home; no speculation18, no science, no experience, could induce them to give up their fond and sanguine93 anticipation94 that once again they were to come in contact with the earth.
“Only let us escape Jupiter,” said Lieutenant Procope, repeatedly, “and we are free from anxiety.”
“But would not Saturn lie ahead?” asked Servadac and the count in one breath.
“No!” said Procope; “the orbit of Saturn is remote, and does not come athwart our path. Jupiter is our sole hindrance95. Of Jupiter we must say, as William Tell said, ‘Once through the ominous96 pass and all is well.’”
The 15th of October came, the date of the nearest approximation of the comet to the planet. They were only 31,000,000 miles apart. What would now transpire97? Would Gallia be diverted from its proper way? or would it hold the course that the astronomer had predicted?
Early next morning the captain ventured to take the count and the lieutenant up to the observatory. The professor was in the worst of tempers.
That was enough. It was enough, without a word, to indicate the course which events had taken. The comet was pursuing an unaltered way.
The astronomer, correct in his prognostications, ought to have been the most proud and contented98 of philosophers; his pride and contentment were both overshadowed by the certainty that the career of his comet was destined to be so transient, and that it must inevitably99 once again come into collision with the earth.
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1
revolve
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| vi.(使)旋转；循环出现 | |
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solitude
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| n. 孤独; 独居,荒僻之地,幽静的地方 | |
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attaining
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| （通常经过努力）实现( attain的现在分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况） | |
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aphelion
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| n.远日点；远核点 | |
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observatory
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| n.天文台，气象台，瞭望台，观测台 | |
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firmament
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| n.苍穹；最高层 | |
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revel
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| vi.狂欢作乐，陶醉；n.作乐，狂欢 | |
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astronomer
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| n.天文学家 | |
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orb
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| n.太阳；星球；v.弄圆；成球形 | |
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conspicuous
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| adj.明眼的，惹人注目的；炫耀的，摆阔气的 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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12
accrue
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| v.(利息等)增大，增多 | |
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proximity
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| n.接近，邻近 | |
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disastrous
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| adj.灾难性的，造成灾害的；极坏的，很糟的 | |
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Saturn
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| n.农神，土星 | |
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disturbance
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| n.动乱，骚动；打扰，干扰；(身心)失调 | |
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speculations
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| n.投机买卖( speculation的名词复数 )；思考；投机活动；推断 | |
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speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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lieutenant
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| n.陆军中尉，海军上尉；代理官员，副职官员 | |
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pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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irresistibly
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| adv.无法抵抗地，不能自持地；极为诱惑人地 | |
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drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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annihilated
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| v.（彻底）消灭( annihilate的过去式和过去分词 )；使无效；废止；彻底击溃 | |
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secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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retarded
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| a.智力迟钝的，智力发育迟缓的 | |
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junction
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| n.连接，接合；交叉点，接合处，枢纽站 | |
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contingencies
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| n.偶然发生的事故，意外事故( contingency的名词复数 )；以备万一 | |
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severed
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| v.切断，断绝( sever的过去式和过去分词 )；断，裂 | |
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inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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revolved
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的过去式和过去分词 )；细想 | |
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milky
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| adj.牛奶的，多奶的；乳白色的 | |
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precisely
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| adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地 | |
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deflected
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| 偏离的 | |
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luminary
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| n.名人，天体 | |
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contemplated
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| adj. 预期的 动词contemplate的过去分词形式 | |
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density
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| n.密集，密度，浓度 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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disturbances
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| n.骚乱( disturbance的名词复数 )；打扰；困扰；障碍 | |
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recapitulate
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| v.节述要旨，择要说明 | |
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rotation
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| n.旋转；循环，轮流 | |
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axis
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| n.轴，轴线，中心线；坐标轴，基准线 | |
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considerably
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| adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上 | |
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45
displacement
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| n.移置，取代，位移，排水量 | |
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46
perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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47
interval
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| n.间隔，间距；幕间休息，中场休息 | |
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48
revolves
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| v.（使）旋转( revolve的第三人称单数 )；细想 | |
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49
enlisted
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| adj.应募入伍的v.（使）入伍， （使）参军( enlist的过去式和过去分词 )；获得（帮助或支持） | |
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50
velocity
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| n.速度，速率 | |
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51
longitudes
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| 经度 | |
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52
prodigious
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| adj.惊人的，奇妙的；异常的；巨大的；庞大的 | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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54
reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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55
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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56
looming
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| n.上现蜃景（光通过低层大气发生异常折射形成的一种海市蜃楼）v.隐约出现，阴森地逼近( loom的现在分词 )；隐约出现，阴森地逼近 | |
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57
Neptune
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| n.海王星 | |
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situated
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| adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的 | |
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Uranus
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| n.天王星 | |
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60
revolving
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| adj.旋转的，轮转式的；循环的v.（使）旋转( revolve的现在分词 )；细想 | |
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colossal
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| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
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62
bosom
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| n.胸，胸部；胸怀；内心；adj.亲密的 | |
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attentively
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| adv.聚精会神地；周到地；谛；凝神 | |
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recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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imperative
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| n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的 | |
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66
apprehended
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| 逮捕，拘押( apprehend的过去式和过去分词 )； 理解 | |
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67
demonstration
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| n.表明，示范，论证，示威 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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verged
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| 接近，逼近（verge的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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71
tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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72
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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enthusiast
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| n.热心人，热衷者 | |
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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begrudged
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| 嫉妒( begrudge的过去式和过去分词 )； 勉强做； 不乐意地付出； 吝惜 | |
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endued
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| v.授予，赋予（特性、才能等）( endue的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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beguiled
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| v.欺骗( beguile的过去式和过去分词 )；使陶醉；使高兴；消磨（时间等） | |
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astronomical
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| adj.天文学的，（数字）极大的 | |
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allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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impending
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| a.imminent, about to come or happen | |
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justify
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| vt.证明…正当(或有理)，为…辩护 | |
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heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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physiology
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| n.生理学，生理机能 | |
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ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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incapable
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| adj.无能力的，不能做某事的 | |
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vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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orbs
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| abbr.off-reservation boarding school 在校寄宿学校n.球，天体，圆形物( orb的名词复数 ) | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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isolation
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| n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离 | |
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sanguine
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| adj.充满希望的，乐观的，血红色的 | |
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anticipation
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| n.预期，预料，期望 | |
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hindrance
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| n.妨碍，障碍 | |
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ominous
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| adj.不祥的，不吉的，预兆的，预示的 | |
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transpire
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| v.(使)蒸发，(使)排出 ；泄露，公开 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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inevitably
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| adv.不可避免地；必然发生地 | |
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