Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-09-10
NO. 2l4
THE PLANETS IN SEPTEMBER,

September will be gala month in ce-
lestal annals, and the planets will be the
most brilliant actors in the grand festivals.
for Mars. Saturn. Jupiter, and Venus, are
all evening stars throughout the month.
Mars comes first on the list of relative
importance; for its famous opposition with
the sun occurs on the fifth, when its DO.
stion as the word implies, will be oppo-
site the sun, and it then rises nearly when
the sun sets, is only thirty-four millions
OF miles distant, if favorably situated for
| observation; and it's disc is being scanned
oy astronomers as it never was before;
| Tor the opportunity has been anxiously
anticipated for thirty years. The discov-
cry of three Martian moons has given a
new impulse to the investigation, and
human ingenuity will do its utmost to in
| trepret every line and feature on the face
| OF our planetry brother. No one who
glances at the southeastern sky in the
evening. can fail to recognize this raddy
and beaming planet.
Saturn is an interesting object during
the month. for it comes into opposition
| with the sun on the ninth. It Is few de-
grees north of Mars. and fine opportu-
nifty is afforded for a study of the pecul-
larities OF the two planets, the contrast In
color. size. and brilliancy being very
marked. While noting the comparative
insignitcance OF the more distant planet,
we can hardly help fancying the glorious
sight that would meet our eyes, it Saturn
| with It's wondrous ring system and moons
were only separated from US by the thirty
| four millions Of Dliles that span the dis
| tance between the earth and Mars.
Jupiter Is losing the prestige it has en-
Ioyed during the summer months, for it is
recedlDg. aud It's brightness is consequent
y decreasing. 1t still holds its golden
head high among the stars in the south
| west, until it sinks below the horizon,
about l l o'clock, during the first part of
| the month.
Venus reigns in the west for an hour af-
ter sunset, and will grow brighter and stay
longer above The horizon as the month ad-
vances. 1t is passing from its superior
conjunction to its greatest eastern elonga-
ton. which it will reach on the 11th of
December, and will become greater OBJ
ject of interest as it approaches the earth.
and in creases in size and in the soft,
pensile beauty for which it is noteworthy.
There are other features of celestial in
| terest to diversity the sky during the first
autumnal month. The new moon of the
9TH is the lovely harvest moon, and under
its full-orbed splendor on the 22d, the Sep
tember nights will be radiant with silvery
| light. The Queen of Night promises a
succession of tableaux in which she will
lead off In the picture. with the planets for
| attendants. On the 9th she appears in
| the west as charming crescent, with
bright Venus and rosy Mercury following
close to her silvery car on the 14th, at
| her first quarter, she is seen higher in the
heavens with the lordly Jupiter, a willing
captive to her beguiling ways; on the 2Oth.
near the full. she passes near the red
planet Mars, and on the 21st she almost
blots from the sky the light of grim old
Saturn.
While the month is full of interest in re-
gard to the movements of the quartet of
planets and the harvest moon, the Septem-
ber sky will be thickly studded with some
| OF the most brilliant stars and constella-
tions that ever look down upon the earth
with friendly eyes. Bright Capella will
show its scintilating face in the northeast.
the graceful Swan will spread its wings
over the tleecy milky way Affair will look
down from the Eagle; Lyra throws It's
beaming glances from the zenith, and
Arcturus and the Northern Crown CLEAN
IN The western sky. Those who are for.
tunate enough to be among the mountains
or at the seasbore, will have grand OBJ
servatory for their observations. and
sufficient knowledge of astronomy for a
comprehension OF the simple laws regu-
lating planetary and starry motion, will
open never-failing source of enjoyment
| which ennobes and instructs as well as
| Observation-Disclosures Journal.