New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-09-17
ASTRONOMICAL PREDICTIONS.

| PHENOMENA TO BE OBSERVED IN THE HEAVENS
DURING THE NEXT % YEARs-ECLIPsEs, COM
ETs, AND sTA.-sHOWERS FROM NOW 10 TIE
NEXT CENTURY.
To the amateur astronomer brief enumeration OF
the principal phenomena to occur i'll the near future
will not be without interest The following list IN
cludes the total eclipscs of the sun and moon the
transts of Mercury and Venus OCCUPATIONS of liked
stars by the moon, the return of periodic comets the
probable dates of meeoric showers, and the epochs
of maxima and mnma of solar spots, from the pres
ent time till the close of the nineteenth century:
1878. On the morning of Nov. 90, Spica p0Dinis,
a wcll-known star of the first magnitude will he
occutcd by the moon. The immersion behind the
moons bright limb will occur about 20 minutes be-
fore O'Clock or a few minutes after the moon shall
have risen. The occultation viii continue about
hour and IL minutes.
1876. Three occultations of the Pleiadcs willtake
place in the last three months of the year viz On
Oct. 6, Nov. 80, and Dec. %. The phenomena
may be well observed with a small telescope
1877. DArrest's comet will return to perihcon IL
January of this year. A total eclipse of the moon,
invisible in this country will take place on the eth
of February. Another will occur on the 23d OF Au-
gust partly visible in the Eastern States
1873. This will be the next year of sun-spot MIN
ina. On May 6, Mercury will pass over the suns
disk, the transit occupying 7h. Am. This, with
single exception is the longest duration OF transit
on record On the 2Sth of July there VIII be an
eclipse of the sum- total in Colorado and also in the
island of Cuba No other opportunity of witnessing
a total solar eclipse in our own country Will occur
till after the close of the present century. Enckes
comet and the second comet of 1867 will both re-
turn to perihclion i'll August.
1879 Brorsens comet of short period Will pass Its
periLelion about the last of june
1850. Winnecke's comet period 5y. I'M will
return about midsummer The moon will be totally
eclipsed on Dec. IS invisible in the United States.
1881 A transit of Mercury on Nov Z. Faye's
comet may be looked for in January, and EnckoS in
November.
1882. The sun will be totally eclipsed May II I;
the phenomenon being visible in Egypt and Persia.
The great astronomical event of the year will be the
transit of Venus on the 9th of December, which viii
be visible in the United States.
1883. A maximum of sun-spots is to be expected
this year. The comet of 1912, whose period was
estimated at 20 years and 8 months may be ex-
pectcd some time during the year. The comet of
D'Arrest may also be looked for in June OF July.
1851. The second comet of 1867 will pass its per-
ihelion in April. a considerable display Of the me-
tcors of April 20 may be expected with some prob
ability The period Of this cluster is supposed to be
occur on the 18th of October.
1855. The comet of Brorscn will be nearest the
sun in January; those of Encke and Tnttc in March.
1Ss6. Wmneckes comet will return in February.
The sun will be totally eclipscd Aug 90 Visible i'll
Grenada and on the Atlantic. That part of the
stream of November meteors which produced the
showers of 1857 and 1920 may be expected to re-
turn between 1SsJ and 1883.
1857 Total eclipse of the sun, Aug. 10, visible in
Asia and Eastern Europe. The comet of 1919, ac-
coriing to Bcsses calculations, Will be in pcriheon
in February
1883. The moon will be totally eclipscd Jan. Is.
Encke's and Fayc's comets will return about mid
summer.
1850. DArrests comet will return IN November.
and the second comet of 1867 in December mini
mum Of sun spots is expected.
1890. Brorsen's comet Will be nearest the sun in
August.
1891 A return of Winncckc's comet in Septem-
ber and of Enckc's in October. transit of Mer-
curry Mayo.
1892. display of metcors derived from Biela's
comet may be expected about Nov. 2i
1891. sun-spot maximum A transit Of Mer
curry Nov. TO-
1895. Encke's comet will become visible in Janu-
airy; the second of 1867 in August; and Fayc's in
December The moon will be totally ecpsed on the
night Of March %.
1896. Perihelion passage Of Brorsens comet IN
February, and Of dArrests in March. A total
eclipse of the sun will occur the morning of Aug.
10. Visible in Lapand and high northern ATTITUDES.
1897. Winneckc's comet will be due in April
1898. Enclse's comet will return in May, and
Tnttles in October The moon will be totally
eclipsed on the night of Dec. 81
1899. The maximum display of LcOnds, or Noycm-
Der mcteors, may be expected this year on the morn
ing of the 10Th of the month. Considerable show
ers, however will probably be witnessed each year
from 1897 10 1901. Temples comet, which is CON
nectcd with these meteors, and which preceded them
in 1866 will probably pass its perihelion in March,
1900 A total eclipse of the sun will be visible in
Virginia May 27. The first comet of 1867, whose
period is :}3 years and months, will return in the
Summer of 1900. The solar-spot minimum will also
occur in this last year of the century.
The foregoing list makes no claim to completeness.
None but total eclpses have been pointed out, and
even some of these may perhaps have been over
looked. The most important celestial phenomena
however. and especially such az may be observed in
our own country, have been briefly designated.