The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-04-03
AN USDEvoUT ASTRONOMER IS MAP

An ISDEvouT ASTRONOMER IS MAD
See how eloQuently the Providence Journal
(iScourse~ Of the stars:
:: Trio Of PlGnetS.-Thc evening sky is
NOW made brilliant by the unusual presence
Of the three most interesting planets of our
sv<tcm-,Iupitcr. Venus, and Mars.
Venus. peerless in Iu>trc, may be seen in
the early evening in the west. shining in
solitary >plcndOr before the lesser lights
have appeared To dispute her sway. She is
passing 10 her greatest eastern eton@ation,
and every evening increases her apparent
distance from the sun and adds Il few
minutes TO her stay above the horizon.
.lur!tcr. almost as Brilliant rs Venus.
though seven times as far from Us. is seated
on his starry throne high i'll the meridian
above our beads, surrounded by bright
AiNrbarou and the sweet influence Of the
pleiadc>. He j. the magnificent brother
planet OF whom we are 80 proud. and thir-
each other would only equal his vast dimen-
>iun>.
Mars, radiant in rudy light, is a con-
~G!rEouS object III The eastern heavens.
N"4t;lu> and Spici are his attendant stars.
their SOFT HIGHT l,ailng under bis brighter
beams.
No one who has All eye for the beauty OF
the >lar-Spaugl.d skis can have failed TO
admire the serene and surpassln" beauty
OF the st9r-it evenings OF the past week.
Last Friday evening was particularly no.
tictable. \ CloudlesS SIX and Il majestic
arch Of the deepest azure formed the back
ground Of the picture. Vents was near
the horizon, shining III soft. pcM>it1 beauty.
Above her hun. tic crescent Moon in silver
HIGHT. And surrounded hy a halo Of small
circumference, hut rejecting every color Of
frc rainbow. Nearly overhead beameu the
mild radiance of Jupiter, encompa>>ed by
iA.. hri -iltc~l twiukling groups that sparkle
in The celestial vault. Far of in the eastern
ky slowly rose the red planet Mars.
Planets or Wanderers The Greeks
cAlc! The members Of the solar system from
TIE strange motions, now forward, now Sit
lionary. now lctro@radc, which they watch
cd bt!I could not comprehend. Science has
made these intricate movements clear as he
dayIight T. all who are willing TO devote Il
little study 10 the subject. For the next
two months Venus will approach Jupiter,
nearly uyertakn. him at the time OF her
greatest cion~ation, While Mars Will retain
his sway in the east.
VEINS is the most nearly like the earth OF
any Of the planets. and her coming transl:S
Of 1874 and 1852 arc being anticipated Is
astronomical cpociiS. Mars is better known
one where we can actually see oceans and
continents, mornin" and evening clouds,
and zones Of snow and Ice. Jupiter Is the
Great planet. whose vast mass Is always pro-
| Gucirr Il colnmOtion IN tic SYSTEM, either
causing immense spots on the sun, or turn
inc comets out OF their orbits, or bringing
about the slm-cpOch CT magnetic storm
| The probability that he has not cooled cn
but is sun himself 10 the moons revolving
around him, is the interesting" question II
| his constitution which is puHz!ins the brains
OF astronomers.
No thoughtful observer can look upoI
| these glorious planets, how SHINING SO Drli
liantly in our evening sky, without ponder
| inc upon the suggestive problem OF whetnel
they are worlds with living inhabitants like
ours. Everything has been discovered cN
iS,ing among them but life, while results
almost rs wonderful rs the existence OF or
o;,nic life have already rewarded the STUDY
OF astronomers. II simple instrument
| like the >pecto>cope has revealed then
constitution 50 wonderfully resembling oul
own, we surely may have faith tia1 some
pu,aiIy-,implc means for detecting me pre-
since of life remains among the uhdl>cov
cred treasures Of the future. Happy WI,
be the philosopher who finds the key "iilci
shall unlock the hidden secret