Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1875-12-01

ASTRONOMICAL PREDICTIONS.
Phenomena to BE Observed in the Heavens
During the Next Twenty-Five Years
EcIIpsese Comets, and star Showers trem
Now TO the Next Century.
70 the amateur astronomer, writes
Professor Kirkwood, brief enumera-
ton of the principal phenomena to oc-
cur in the near future will not be with
out interest. The following 9 list in
moon, the transits of Mercury and
Venus; OCCUPATIONS of fixed stars by the
moon, the return of periodic comets,
the probable dates of meteoric show
ers, and the epochs of maxima and
minima of solar spots, from the present
time till the close of the nineteenth
century:
1876. On the morning of November
%, Spica Virgins, well-known star
of the first magnitude, will be occulted
by the moon. The immersion behind
the moons bright limb will occur about
1:50 O'Clock, or a few minutes after
the moon shall have risen. The occul-
tation will continue about one hour and
twelve minutes.
1876. Three occultations of the Plei-
AIDES will take place in the last three
months of the year, viz, on October 6,
November 80. and December %. The
phenomena may be well observed with
small telescope.
1877. D'Arrest comet will return to
perihelion IN January Of this year. A
total eclipse of the moon, invisible in
this country, viii take place on the 9th
of February. Another will occur on the
23d of August, partly visible in the
Eastern States.
1878 This will be the next year of
sun-spot minima. On May 6, Mercury
will pass over the suns disk, the transit
occupying 7h. Aim. This, with sin
transit on record. On the 28th of
July there will be an eclipse of the sun,
total i'll Colorado and also in the island
of Cuba. No other opportunity of
witnessing total eclipse in our own
country will occur till after the close of
the. present century. Encke's comet
and the second comet of 1867, will
both return to perihelion in August.
1879. Brorsen's comet of short period
will pass it's pe1iheiion about the last of
June.
1890. Winnecki's comet (period 5y.
7m.) will return about midsummer
The moon will be totally eclipsed on
December Is; inv sible in the United
States.
1881. A transit of Mercury OF May 7.
Faye's Genet may be looked for in Jan
xary, and Encke's in November.
1882 The sun will be totally eclipsed
May II; the phenomenon being visi-
BILE III Egypt and Persia. The great
astronomical event of the year will be
the transit of Venus on the 9th of No
vember, which will be visible in the
United States.
1883. A maximum of sun spots is to
be expected this year. The comet of
1872, whose period was estimated at 70
years and s months may be expected
some time during the year. The comet
of D'Arrest may also be looked for in
June or July.
1884 The second comet OF 1867 will
pass its perihelion in April. A consid-
cradle display of the meteors OF April
20 may be expected with some proba-
bility. The period OF this cluster is
supposed to be about twenty seven
years. A total eclipse Of the moon will
occur on the 4th of October.
1885. The comet of Brorsen will be
nearest the sun n January; those of
Encke and Tuttle in March.
1886. Winnecke's comet viii return in
February. The sun will be totally
eclpsed August 90. Visible in Grena-
da and on the Atlantic. That part of
the stream of November meteors which,
produced the showers of 1857 and
1920 may be expected to return between
1886 and 1888.
1887. Total eclipse of the sun, August
IS. Visible In Asia and Eastern
Europe. The comet of 1916, according
to Bessels calculations, will be in
perihelion in February.
1888. The moon will be totally
eclipsed January %. Eucke's and
Faye's comets will return about mid
summer.
1889. D'Arrest's comet will return in
November, and the second comet Of
1867 in December. A minimum of sun
spots is expected.
1890. Brorsen's comet will be nearest
the sun In August.
1891. a return of Winnecke's comet
IN September, and of Encke's in Octo-
Der. A transit of Mercury, May 9.
1892. A display of meteors derived
from Biela's comet may be expected
about November "a
1894 A sun-spot maximum. A tran
sit of Mercury, November 10.
1895. Encke's comet will become
visible IN january; the second of 1867,
.lk1llst, - Faye's in December. !