Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1865-12-21

uon the earth Is In, II we VIII TAKE inc
trouble 10 notice, at the hour OF mid
night, what constellation is on the me-
ridian. A little reflection will enable
almost any one 10 perceive that this
must be 10,
II now on the 2lst OF December, Just
At hand, when the sun is said 10 enter
Capricorn, we take an observation at
midnight, we shall find that the con-
ISOLATION Gssniai, not Cancer, as just now
stated, IL on the meridian. This con-
stellation is nearly over head at that
time, or as high above the horizon rs
the sun is at noon on the 2lst Of June.
1t can be easily pointed out TO the be-
holder, but not so readily described 10
the comprehension OF the reader,
II devolves on us 20 explain the dis
crepsncy that appears in our previous
statements. What we have stated was
strictly true about 300 years ago, but
il requires 10 be slightly modified TO
correspond with present appearances.
What is called the Vernal Equirox Is
the point in the heavens from which all
reckoning Is made from west to east.
Surprising the earth to be AZ that point,
as n is on the Goth of March, when the
sun crosses the line" and the days and
nights are exactly equal and suppose
a straight line to be drawn from the
sun through the earth to any star, that
star would mark the point OF the YER
nal equinox for that year. On coming
round the next year it would be found
that the sun crossed the line" q little
before the earth reached the line before
mentioned. Thus the equinoctial point
of this year has reoecied to the westward
from that OF last year.
This is what is called the " Procession
Of the EQuinoxes, but the term Re
cession would seem TO be more appro-
pirate. This has been going on at the
rate of about fifty seconds a year from
time immemorial, and in the course OF
the period above mentioned has amount.
ed to about thirty degrees, or one-twelCth
part OF great circle. The cause of this
recession is too complicated to be ex.
planned here. 1t can be readily seen
that the effect of the Procession of the
Eeuinoxes IL to throw forward the con-
stellations through which the sun and
planets appear to move. Twenty-Five
hundred years ago the first sign" OF 80
degrees from the equinox embraced the
! constellation Aries, the second sign in.
cluded the constellation Taurus, the
third. Cancer, the fourth Gemini, and SO
on. Consequently the signs received
the names of the consultations that
were mainly included within their linn.
its. Owing to the Procession, the first
sign, still called Aries, now covers the
| constellation Pisces, the second sign
called Taurus covers Aries, the third
sign, Taurus, the fourth Gemini, and so
on-that is, each stgf Is in the eonsEA1G.
ton next preceding. This confusion OF
terms is always very perplexing to ty-
ros in astronomy, and Is to be regretted;
! ouL, as we I'LL know, II - very uimUuit
10 change old names.
If we have succeeded ia making our
selves understood, 1t will now be seen
that when the sun Is said to enter the
sigs Capricorn, it Is really in the eO"ste3-
tatien sagittarius, and that the earth be-
ing at the same time in the sign Cancer
/ il in the constellation Gemini, which, i!
the sky is clear, can be seen on the ne
r..911ian tomorrow night at twelve
O'Clock.
Perhaps we owe an apology for intro
ducing so dry subject into daily pa
per, but it takes everything to make {
world, or especially universe. Besides
our opinion is that subject so intrin
sically interesting, and one to which tn
arts OF navigation and surveying are 81
greatly indebted, should not be monopo
LIED by those who are practically en-
gagged in the arts, together with few
inmates Of observaturies. and almana.
makere