The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-09-03

IHE STARS. The following interest
ing article from the Providence Journal.
although more especially adapted to the
celestial "situation," q few weeks ago, is
not yet entirely out OF date:
The lovely planet Venus, the queen of
them all, deserves the first place on the
list of evening stars. She is now a bril-
liant object in the Western sky, appear
ing soon utter sunset. and reigning su-
preme In her characteristic soft, pensive
beauty, no lesser light daring to dispute
her sovereign sway. She reached her
greatest distance from the sun, or her
gre1test Eastern elongation, on the 18th
OF July, and has since been rapidly ap-
proaching the sun, increasing in size
and splendor with every passing day.
She will reach her point of greatest
brlllianoy on the Goth of this month,
after which, decreasing in light, and an.
proachlng nearer the sun at every re-ap-
pearanoe, she will, on the 26th of Sen
tsmber, arrive ut her inferior ooniuno-
ton, aud passing between us aud the
great luminnry, re-appear on his Western
side to fulfill her mission as the morning
star for the succeeding 292 days. Seen
through the telescope, Venus now pre-.
sents the appearance Of o waning crescent,
constantly increasing in size, but turning
more and more her enlightened side
from us, so that although she appears
twenty live times ns large as when in the
opposite and most distant part of her
orbit, the light she gives by no means
corresponds to her nearness.
No student Of the stars can have failed
during the last few months to compare
the two planets, Jupiter and Venus. shin.
ing brilliantly side by side in gay con-
trast; Venus, our near neighbor, and
Jupiter, our magnificent brother, who,
in spite Of his immense distance, ma.
naged to hold the lists with his feminine
rival. It was pleasant to watch their
nightly approach on the celestial path
way, until passing each other on the 18th
OF Mny, Jupiter moved sunward, and
Venus still pursued her Eastward course
high up among the stn.rs. A special in-
terest just now is attached to the planet
Venus in the astronomical world, for in
1874 one of her transits takes place.
She will then pass, like tiny, black
star, across the SUMS disc. and ustrono-
mers OF oil nations are making prepare.
tons to observe the rare phenomenon.
Ihe EnGliRh Government has appro-
prlated $4,000 for this purpose, and
their efforts in the cause. Instruments
are being constructed and stations hnve
been chosen for observation. Next year,
some of the parties will be Obliged to
start for tho inhospitable regions near
the Arctic and Antartic circles, whers
the work must be done. The last transit
took place in 1863, aud since then great
improvements in science have been
nude, which will ell BIZ brought to beur
upon one of the grent problems TO be
solved, that IF tho SIMS distance, in
which an error of 1000, 600 miles is to be
detected.
The rcd planet Mars is now conspi.
cuous object in the South. .east iu the
early evening. though by no means 30
briliinnt q few months since. Tho planet
may be traced in the constellation Vir-
go, not very fur from its principal star
Spica. with whose delicate hue the ruddy
planet forms pleasing contrast. It can
be easily recognized. for no other star
but the ''lone" Spica is found in the vi
cinity. Mars is an exceedingly interest
ing telescopio object, and probably the
only planet whose surface is actually
seen. for Venus deties the telescope will
its brightness, and the other planets are
too fur of. Everything found on the
earth has been discovered on this planet
but the existence of life. Engle-eyed
astronomers have mapped out its sur.
face, watched its snowy poles. noted the
green of its waters, detected the ruddy
color of its Boil, admired it's morning and
evening twilight hnes, and marked the
passage Of furious storms and moisture
laden clouds over its surface Spectre.
scopio observers have tested the consti-
tuents OF its mass, and found metals,
earths, gases, vapors and an atmosphere
corresponding to our own.
The planet Saturn rises later iii the
evening, and is now found in the con
stellation Sagittarius, and very near the
Milky Way, on which the archer rests
his bended bow. Its ruddy light and
soft glow make it easily disoernibIe
among the stars. It is specially interest
ing now ns telescopic object, for it's
rings arc turned toward US, and surround
the planet, or rather cradle it in their
soft light. as they will not do again to
our eyes for fifteen yenrs. These beau.
tiful rings are objects of intense study
to our star r-gazers, who wait patiently to
discern if they are really nude up OF
myriad minute satellites or meteors,
bound together by incomprehensihla