Note 34 — Chapter VI · (continued 2)

The distance of Saturn from the sun is 906,000,000 of miles; it is sometimes nearer to and at other times farther from the earth, according as it is near the point of its opposition to, or conjunction with the sun. If this number be divided by 200, the supposed magnifying power of the telescope, the quotient is 4,530,000, which expresses the distance in miles at which it enables us to contemplate this planet. If this number be subtracted from 906,000,000, the remainder is 901,470,000, which expresses the number of miles from the earth at which we are supposed to view Saturn with such an instrument.