American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1877-12-29

SEASONS.
Vernal Equinox-March 20, IL 50 a. m.
Summer Solstice-June q, S:l3 a. m,
Earth in Aphelion-J9ly Z, 2:30 a: m.
Autumnal EquinOx-Sept. 2, 10 SO D. m.
Winter Solstice-Dec. q, 45I D. IN.
ECLIPSES.
There will be four eclipses during the year,
two of each luminary, as follows
An annular eclipse of the sun, near two
O'Clock in the morning of Feb. 2; which will,
therefore, be invisible to the people on this
part of the earth's surface. 1t will be partial
ly visible from nearly the whole of Australia,
but from neither of the Continents, its north
ern limit being south of the southernmost
capes of Asia and Africa.
A partial eclipse of the moon in the morn
ing of Feb. II, visible from the United States.
The moon will enter the earths shadow at 3h.
5215m. a m, and leave it at Oh. 49, IN. a. IN.
At 5h. 2lm., the middle of the eclipse, 0.S4 of
the moons diameter will be obscured. The
time is not favorable for general observation
from this section.
A total eclipse of the sun, July 30, visible to
all parts Of North America. The line Of total
ity runs through KamSchatka, Behring's Straits,
Alaska, British America, Western Montana,
Western Wyoming, Western Colorado, passing
about degree southwest OF Denver City,
and across Texas to the Gulf of Mexico, near
Galveston City. At Chicago the eclipse will
be partial, nearly 0.S of the SUMS diameter
being obscured at about Al Aim. p m, which
is the time Of the greatest phase as seen from
this city.
A partial eclipse of the moon in the after
noon and evening of Aug. -, partially visible
shadow at An. 52m p. m, being then below
the horizon; and will leave it at III 44m. p. M,
when she will be little more than half an hour
high.
Nerc1ag-Wil be at his greatest elongation
west, rising before the sun, at the following
dates; Feb; esq deg, June 2 (244 deg.),
His greatest elongations east, setting after
the sun, will be as follows: April Is 60 deg.),
Aug. 13 (271l degl, Dee. s (21 deg) The
first-named date will be the most favorable for
observation with the naked eye in northern
ATTITUDES Those who, like Copernicus on his
death-bed, regret never to have seen Mercury,
will do well to look for him the evenings of
April IA and Is, just after sunset, a little
south from the point where the sun sinks be-
low the horizon.
On the 9th of May the planet will transit the
SUMS disc; the interesting phenomenon being
visible from the whole of the American CONT
nent. The transit will begin at about Oh. "A 4.
m, and end at Al. 5Sm. P. m. the total dura-
ton being hours "a minutes. At noon the
planet Will be very nearly one-third of the
SUMS apparent diameter below his upper limb
The first contact viii occur As degrees east,
and the last 100 degrees west, from the (as-
Economically northern point of the solar disc
Ve'tteS-Will be near her greatest eastern
elongatiOn at the opening of the year, setting
after the sun, and will be very prominent OBJ
Ject in the evening sky during January, she
attains her greatest brilliancy on the 10th,
when she will be a few degrees south from
the x of Aquaries- At the close of January
sne will be stationary, dogs. south from
Lambda in Aquaries. Feb. 20 is the date of
her inferior conjunction with the sun. She
Will thereafter be a morning star till Dec. .,
the date of her superior con junction with the
sun. She attains her greatest brilliancy
March IS; being then nearly midway between
Alpha in Aquaries and NIu in Capricorn. In
the morning of April Is she will be about
3 dogs. south from the moon. May l, she
attains her greatest western elongation, 40
dogs. min., being then a little below the
quadrilateral in the Western Fish. May she
will be l Il dogs. north from Saturn. In the
morning of Aug. 26 she will be very near the
moon; Sept. 25 will be only half degree
north from Mercury, and Sept. 30 will be a
quarter of degree south from Mercury, both
in the morning. Oct q Venus will be less
than degree north from Mars. Except to
those who rise before the sun, the planet
Venus will be an interesting object only dur
ing the first month of the year.
MdTs-At the beginning of the year this
planet will be nearly on the meridian at 6
O'Clock in the evening, 4 little southeast from
Algenib; and from that time gradually nears
the sun till Sept. IS, the date of his conjunc-
ton. Mars will not be a prominent object in
1873, though easily recognized in the evening
sky Gin the west) during the first two months
of the year.
Jltpiter-Will be in conjunction with the sun
Jan. 5, and be a morning star during the first
half of the year. June H. near midnight, he
will be less than half a degree north from the
moon, and will be again nearly in conjunc-
ton with her in the morning of July Is. Ten
the sun, being then less than 2 degrees
south from Pi in Capricorn. He will be among
the unpromnent stars of Capricorn and Aqua
ries during the remainder of the year, being
an evening star through the autumn months
In the evening of Oct. 81 the moon will pass
very little to the southwa rd of Jupiter.
SdtUr7t-Will be an evening star till March
13, the date of his conjunction with the sun !;
and a morning star thereafter till Sept. %
being in opposition to the sun only 1913 hours
before the Autunlnal Equinox. He viii be an
evening star during the last three months of
the year In january he will be near the head
of the Western Fish, south from the Square of
Pegasus, and a very interesting object through
the telescope, as his ring system will be near
the vanishing point. The ring will disappear
about Feb. &, and remain invisible till March
l, when the plane of the rings will be in line
with the earth Saturn is then too near the
sun to be prominent object. At the date of
opposition (September) he will be II dogs
south from Algenib, nearly in line with the
eastern side of the Square of Pegasus; and
will be not far from that position during the
remainder OF the year, not near any promi-
nent star.
L7'amaes-Will be barely visible to the naked
eye star of the sixth magnitude during
the early part OF the year. His opposition to
the sun occurs during the night of Feb. Is,
and his conjunction Aug. p. He will be near
Regulus the leading star of Leo, during the
whole year, and during the night of Feb
will be only 201a minutes of arc north from
that star. July p he will be but a little more
than 16 minutes north from Regulus. He may
be found by reference to that star when in a
position favorable for observation but will
probably require good eye to ''pick him up
owing to his nearness to the bright star above
named.
Neptu',e-Will be in opposition to the sun
Oct. 81. at which time his right ascension will
be 2h. 31m. 3Ss., and his defamation north ID
degrees l minute. He will be little above
the principal stars in the head of Cetus during
the year. He can only be seen by the aid of a
good telescope.-ChicOgO Tribune.
lone. or The Happy Village.