The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-04-20
The Visible Planets.
Below are the present positions of oil
those planets which are visible to tho
avn.

Below are the present positions of all
those planets which arc visible to tho
naked eye:
The planet Mercury is, ut present, quite
unfavorably situated for observation, q it
10 now in close proximity to the sun, hav-
Ing reached its greatest elongation west
on Friday, March 10, at which time its
apparent distance from the sun was TWEEN.
ty-seven degrees and thirty-o one minutes.
Mercury is now rapidly approaching the
sun, and will soon be lost in the brilliancy
OF that orb. On April 21st Mercury will
be situated In his superior conjunction
with the sun, after which he will pass to
the eastward of that luminary, and reach
his greatest elongation on May Goth, when
he may be seen % an "evenjng star"
This planet can be seen distinctly with
the naked eye only about the time of its
greatest elOngation, and, to those who re-.
side in northern lstitudes, It will hardly
be visible even at such periods, if it be
near the extreme point of its southern de.
clination.
The planet Venus is, at present, the most
beautiful of all the planets visible to the
naked eye, and is avery conspicuous object
upon our western heavens after sunset,
No other orb now visible in the evening
sky can equal or even vie with this planet
in splendor. The brilliancy of Venus is
such that it cannot be mistaken by any
observer, especially when its position
In the heavens has been pointed out.
Those beautiful lines by Milton will sure.
ly apply to Venus at tue present time:
snow CLOVIS the armament
Mithliving sapphires; Hcsperus, that LEADS
The starry host, rides brightest
Venus will reach her greatest elongation
east on May 4th, after which she will re.
main stationary Tor few days, and then
retrace her course toward the sun. On
July 18th Venus passes her inferior con-
junction, after which she will be no
longer seen in the evening for period of
nine and one half months. She will then
become a morning STAR" and, about ten
days after her conjunction, can be seen in
the twilight before sunrise. Venus will
appear brightest, this year, on June 9TH
and August Goth, at which time her bril-.
liancy will be SO great as to cast a faint
shadow.
The planet Mars is now very favorably
situated for observation, and is quite
prominent orb upon our evening sky in
the west. Mars is at present in the con-
s,elIation Aries, and can be easily dis
tinguished from the fixed star by his ruddv
appearance. In our latitude Mars can
now be observed to much advantage, as
he does not set until nearly nine O'Clock
long after the evening twilight has disap
peared. Mars is slowly approaching the
sun, butwill continue as an evening STAR
until Aug. s, when he will be in coniunc-
ton with the SUM-
This great planet is not very interest
ing object at present, being visible only
in the morning, and quite unfavorably
situated for inspection. When conspicu-
ously situated, however, Jupiter is q
charming orb to behold, and can scarcely
be mistaken, as he is next to Venus in al1-
pearance, magnitude aud splendor. Jupi-
Ter will appear most brilliant on May
18th, when it is in opposition to the sun,
and his satellites and belts will then pre-.
sent fine appearance a. seen through q
telescope.
SATURN.
Saturn, the " riugcl world" is at pres.
ent the most unfavorably situated of all
the visible planets. He was situated in
conjunction with the sun on Feb. 18th,
ard, being submerged in the rays of that
luminary, he has not yet become visible
to the naked eye as a'"morning star"
This planet is not distinguished for its
brilliancy to the naked eye, although it
exhibits a beautiful appearance through
the telescope. 1t shines with a pale, white
light, and is not easily distinguished from
the fixed stars, except by the steadiness Of
its light Saturn will soon become visible
to the naked eye in the early morning
dawn, before sunrise.
URANUS.
This planet is, for the most part, invis-
ible to the naked eye, but it can be per-
ceived if the exact position is known.
The most favorable time to observe this
planet is at or near the period of its oppo.
sition to the sun, which will not occur
this year. Uranus is now situated among
the small stars, in the constellation Can
Ger. Owing to its slow orbital motion its
relative position to these stars will not
be much altered for several month";.
X. Bastlstt. IN Detroit Free Psess.