Comparative Magnitudes of the Planets

One of a set of twelve hand-coloured astronomical prints with an explanatory card. These cards were first issued by Reynolds in 1846, although he and other publishers continued to produce them throughout the second half of the 19th century. They responded to a perceived market for popular science products and were intended for informal learning within the home.
The main image on this print shows the comparative sizes of the planets, including Neptune, depicting Saturn with its rings and the known satellites. A diagram at the bottom indicates the relative distances of the planets from the Sun. Two small images at the top show the phases of Saturn (i.e. our changing view of its rings) and the Phases of Venus.

Artist: James Reynolds; John Emslie
Date: 1846-1860
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