New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-04-06
TIE FOWLER MOTION.
APRIL SKIES.
GEs IN THE CONSULTATIONS.

CHANGES IN THE CONSULTATIONS.
TIE STARS SERVE FOR SIGNS And FOR SEASONS
utF EASTERN EIoNGATloN AND SUBSEQUENT
TRANSIT or MERCURY.
Few observers of the starry hcaTons can fan
10 notice the change thar Is slowly taking place in the
appearance evening sky. The old oonsteImilohs
which have been 50 conspicuous and familiar all winter
lopg are passing away TO make for Others that
fadt out with the Autumnal flowers Orion the mighty
- tafi
Bull while IN the East the Virgin RISES bearing IN her
hand the spike Of wheat which gives its name 70 her
principal star and promise Of the coming and
not far stl later Antares the heart OF
the Scorpion flashes urdly above the horizon. tho har
bnger Of autumn. Each change In the considerations
forctells new phase OF the year Tho southern gb OF
tho Wild birds proclams that Winter IL nigh at hand,
and so she Swan she wings her way toward the
setting sum- The early flowers, which peep out even
amid frost and snow speak OF hc life soon to snc
coed the deah Of Winter and the Peladcs. those coy
virgins Of Spring take the story, as they hasten
10 lend their sweet influences 10 tho suD and bedeck
the earth with the buds and blossoms OF May And thus
as was said OF them long. long ago, the stars In their
courses for signs and for seasons. and Ike the
CRIME and the swallow. know their appointed times.
The most Interesting astronomical event OF April is
the eastern eon CATION Mercury previous to his tran
SIT on MAY O. Owing 10 the fact that Mercury Is very
close 10 the sun and that Its orbit lies wholly within
that OF the oarihs, the planet appears TO oscate Ike
pendnn on each side OF the and only be seen
when near the end OF it, swings. These two points are
called rs greatest eastern and western eloneatons When
east OF the sum- the planet be looked for shortly
after sunset and when west little before sunrise. Now
iH next eOngation takes place on April loand Is
that Mercury has then considerable northern decnn0h
aud v III set two hours after the sun Ihe best
time catch him II from the ION 10 the loth but he
NAV also be detected late tine Goth and al opera
glass will CRAFTY help the search IN looking Tor the
plf net find the Pleades and let the eye run an mag
fha f,uies
fancy n second line drawn iron the PlciadcS through
Aldebaran the bright red star IN tho shaped group
which forms the head OF the Bull, aud marx the angle
line Now draw n third line from tho P,elades making
precisely the same angle 10 the right or Southwest OF
the frstnc Mercury passes eastward along ms lst
line and the 18th, VIII be ABOUT as lat Iioln me
Peades "a AdcbaTnn Is And he IA also In part OF
the sky where bKht stars he Ought 10 DO
found without difficulty,
opportunity May After reaching his greatest e0uga
lion Mercury begins 10 swing back 10 the West pIssiug
on his way right the face Of the SUM- where ne VIII
be visible round black spot lhs tia'slt, as IL ID
called occl. on May q. IL VIII take seven nous Tor
the planet 10 pass the suunOt apparently raph speed
for the winged OF the gods ana yet IN lose
own plobe The French Government Is send NJ ON TWO
expedons one TO Peru and another 10 tins country 20
ohserye s passage and the 9ulhOfcs OF our nav ob-
servatoy have aTely i'slsd psnphiet o. sIySc'tohs
Ia American strononors Those INT rcsi'd In hs Tfthcr
rarc phenomenor III fpd THE TRIBUNE AtMArsC for
this yea a very useful guide I1s almanac 1ot our,
the transit take place ut the principal points OF we
Union also prints three diagrams showing tue eAA''
path OF the planet over tie SUI - alsk .o, r+,,o
The moon in her nightly w9ndeIlngs presents htt,s
this month that Ia Interesting hut the early riser snouu
not fail 10 note her near approach 10 Jupiter on tne
morning Of the Gath, and 10 Venus on e o' S VI ,
Reus on the morning Of the l3th Spiea on the 10TH,
and AntaIos on the l5th'