PLANET, a celestial body, revolving round the sun as a centre, and continually changing its position with respect to the fixed stars; whence the name planet, which is a Greek word, signifying "wanderer."
The planets are usually distinguished into primary and secondary. The primary ones, called by way of eminence planets, are those which revolve round the sun as a centre; and the secondary planets, more usually called satellites or moons, are those which revolve round a primary planet as a centre, and constantly attend it in its revolution round the sun.
The primary planets are again distinguished into superior and inferior. The superior planets are those farther from the sun than our earth; as Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, and the Georgium Sidus; and the inferior planets are those nearer the sun than our earth, as Venus and Mercury. See ASTRONOMY.
That the planets are opaque bodies, like our earth, is thought probable for the following reasons. 1. Since in Venus, Mercury, and Mars, only that part of the disk
Planet disk illuminated by the sun is found to shine; and
Planetary. again, Venus and Mercury, when between the earth
and the sun, appear like dark spots or maculæ on the
sun's disk; it is evident, that Mars, Venus, and Mer-
cury, are opaque bodies, illuminated with the borrowed
light of the sun. And the same appears of Jupiter,
from its being void of light in that part to which the
shadow of the satellites reaches, as well as in that part
turned from the sun; and that his satellites are opaque,
and reflect the sun's light, is abundantly shown. A-
gain, since Saturn, with his ring and satellites, only
yield a faint light, fainter considerably than that of the
fixed stars, though these be vastly more remote, and
than that of the rest of the planets; it is past doubt
that he too with his attendants are opaque bodies.
2. Since the sun's light is not transmitted through
Mercury and Venus, when placed against him, it is
plain they are dense opaque bodies; which is likewise
evident of Jupiter, from his hiding the satellites in his
shadow; and therefore, by analogy, the same may be
concluded of Saturn. 3. From the variable spots of
Venus, Mars, and Jupiter, it is evident these planets
have a changeable atmosphere; which changeable at-
mosphere may, by a like argument, be inferred of the
satellites of Jupiter; and therefore, by similitude, the
same may be concluded of the other planets. 4. In
like manner, from the mountains observed in Venus,
the same may be supposed in the other planets. 5. Since,
then, Saturn, Jupiter, and the satellites of both, Mars,
Venus, and Mercury, are opaque bodies shining with the
sun's borrowed light, are furnished with mountains,
and encompassed with a changeable atmosphere; they
have, of consequence, waters, seas, &c. as well as dry
land, and are bodies like the moon, and therefore like
the earth. Q. E. D. And hence it seems also highly
probable, that the other planets have their animal in-
habitants as well as our earth.