Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-07-12
Planets I'm July.
4 PLEASANT TALK ABOUT JUPITER MARI
SATURN, VENUS, AND MERCURY.
tFrcm the Providence journal, JulyS

CFrcm the Providence journal. JuIyS1
Jupiter Will be conspicuous object in the
eastern sky during the month, rising now
about O'Clock and shining with wOndrouS
beauty in the constellation CapricornuS. On
the 18th, this planet comes into opposition with
the sun, and will al that time shine with his
greatest brilancy, for he is at the nearest
approach 10 US; the sun, the earth, and the
planet being in a line, with the earth in the
ct inter-. lie is more than lSA,0O00OO of miles
nearer than when, in the opposite portion of
his orbit, he comes into con- junction with the
sun. The opposition of p.anet means that
its position is opposite 10 the sun, and that it
will Use when the sun sets. Therefore, the
sparkling gem that in the latter part OF the
II onth willrise above the south eastern horizon
as the sun sinks below the western may ~
easily recognized as Jupiter. 1t will be de
nghiiul to watch his course, as he rises earlier
each evening, increasing all the while in size
al hrltiancy, until he reaches his opposition
or the 18th. Nothing in the eastern heavens
will dispute his supremacy until the crescent
moon wakes into proportions that oyerShadOw
his milder beams. The evening after she has
passed her fun, on the 18th. she will be i'm con
junction with the bright evening star, and a
charming picture will be painted on the azure
of The sky.
Mars is also evening star, but is of little &C.
count, he is so far away and shines with so
Insignificant luStre after the glorious display
he made last year, when his glowing aspect
turned all the world into star gazerS. He is
sun, reaching this point on the 18th of Septen-
Der, VIXEN he will be 100000 of miles further
from US than at his memorable opposition Of
1877, the epoch of the discovery of his two
satellites. Mars may he looked for in the con
stellation of Leo, setting now not far from 9
o'clock, and not very distant from Regulus.
ON the Z2d M arS and Mercury are in conjunc-
ton. On the 29ih, those who are fortunate
enough to witness the total eclipse of the sun
viii see Mars ReguluS and Mercury forming
an irregular line, Mercury being the bright
est, and possibly the only one of the starry
rio visible during the short period of total
darkness.
Saturn, although not classified as an evening
star until his opposition on the 22d Of Septem.
Der, rises now not long after IL O'clock and at
the close Of the month may be seen nearly two
hours earlier. He is tracking his slow course
among the small stars of the cOnstella ion
Pisces, coming into better position COR Oh.
seivation, and may be easily recognized from
his superior brightness TO the stars in the
vicinity, rising also a little south of east
Venus remains unrivaled among the morn
ing stars. She passed her greatest western
eIungatiOn on the I'd of June, and is now
Speeding far away from us to her superior con
junction on the 5th of December. She rises
during the month not very far from O'clock
and early rlSerS commanding view of the
eastern b riZon will be well rewarded by the
sleht OF her charming face, and the soft, deli
cate colorlng that distinguishes the most
beautiful star among the myradS that make
up The starry host. Though far away, and
small in size, she retains her sovereign SWAY.
and fingers i'll the morning sky till the sun is
ready to show his face above the horizon.
Mercury, in the first part of the month, is
wv hCai tilS gun W NlSlDlt Dul, Oh The 0lSI,
he does not set till $40 o'clock, and may, per-
haps, be picked up by sharp eyes in the even
ing twilight, - south of the place of sunset.
On the 2SEh, Mercury and Uranus are in con
junction, and both planets are near ReguIuS,
but good telescope is needed for a good
view OF the celestial phenomenon.
Inc lncCnSlant moon, as usual plays Off her
airs and graceS to win the favor of her brother
and sister planets. She glided as a slender
thread of silver light near the path of Mars on
the I'd, Will beam with nearly full-Orhed splen-
dor in conjunction with Jupiter on the 18th,
and pass near Saturn on the Doth having then
nearly reached her last quarter. But she will
be seen in her most fascinating phase On the
morning OF the 9th. when in waning glory she
hangs near the bright morning star, while
moon, star, and breaking dawn will form
picture OF celestial loneliness fair to behold.
Thus, with the waxing and waning phases of
the July moon, the rising setting and con-
junction Of the planets, the Midsummer noe
tut mai sky will form succession of pictures
OF intending variety, full of beautiful combi
nations OF starry glory, delightful to aesthetic
awe, and fruitful in the best kind of inStruc
ton, that which lifts the soul from the absorb
ing pursuits OF time and sense to the contem
platiOn of the wonders of immensely. The
Summer Is the best time to study astronomy
AID Summer tourists will find no more salts
factory amusement than that which may be
enjoyed in tracing the movements and learn
| ing the names OF the mysterious twinklerS
| hanging suspended in the depths of space,
| Oser the mountain tops, or, gliStenug in the
| grand sky, reaches that arch over suburban
| resorts or mildly beamIng above the dwellings
| that surround the sea shore.