Through the Telescope

Abstract

Even small telescopes will show definite features on most of the bright planets. Mars has its polar caps, its ochre deserts and the dark areas once thought to be seas; Jupiter has its belts, its spots and also its satellites, while Saturn is distinguished by its glorious system of rings. Venus is less spectacular, because the actual surface is permanently hidden by the dense, cloudy atmosphere; there is no such thing as a sunny day on Venus. Mercury presents problems of a different kind, partly because it is small but mainly because it can never be seen against a really dark background.