Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-10-04
Planets in October.

Saturn- Is evening star during the month VIII
the exception OF The first four days, and 1t hts
turn TO hold the place Of honor among the
planetary Brotherhood. He comes into oppo
sltlon WIN the sun, earth and planet are in the
same straight line with the earth In the center
He Is therefore at his nearest point of approach
ard takes on his brightest hue and largest di.
menslonS. Saturn rises on the 5th at sunset,
aLd on the slst, about four O'Clock. He should
pc looked 1or at present In the east, an
hour or two after sunset, when sufficiently
nigh above the horizon to Be easily detected
and will be found considerably farther north
IMAM Jupiter and about two hours behind
him. Bis peculiar color or dull yellow, steady
light, and the absence OF large stars In the
ne1ghborhood, will secure his recognition as
soon as the full moon Is out of the way OBJ
servers who have access to telescopes should
improve the present opportunity for sight of
the most charming telescope object in the
ne TIL ngs undergo variety
the planets revolution. just now, they are ap-
parently rings no longer, but lines OF light pro-
jecting on each side OF this golden bail OF sur
passing loneliness, while the beauty Of the
picture is increased by as many of the eight
moons as their position and the power of the
instrument can summon into the field.
Jupiter Is evening star, and so superb an OBJ
jecJ In the evening sky that there is no need to
sound his praises. But he is moving away from
our vicinity; before the month has passed his
end OF the month he will sink below the hori-
zon about one O'Clock, leaving the field for lesser
lights to take their turn for being in the ascend
dhl. he TlScS now AT nalI-paSC 1Our, at Jne END
of the month at half past two.
Mercury is evening star after the 5th, when
he comes into superior conjunction with The
sun and sets at the same time. On the 31st he
after the sun. He is invisible throughout the
month, and, safely hidden in the suns rays
tracks his rapid course, secure from terrestia!
vision.
Venus Is morning star, and rapidly reaching
a distance from the sun that makes her the
object Of supreme interest among the morning
stars. She now rises at quarter after tive
about three-quarters of an hour before the sun,
but In the latter part Of the month she will rise
not long after three, more than three hours be-
fore the sun. On the 3Oth she reaches that
period of her reateSt brtlltancy, occurring
thirty-six days after her inferior conjunction.
Early observers Will then be rewarded by a
sight OF the largest and most beautiful member
OF our planetary system in her most beaming
phase. Those who desire to watch her erratic
movements Will see, by marking her course
among the stars of Leo, that she is moving rap
idly, as she does near her conjuuctions, and
that her course is retrograde or westward.
Mars Is morning star, and Is rapidly taking on
phase that will make him prominent object
of interest among the members of the solar
family. His size Increases and as he darts
above the horizon earlier each evening, he
seems to beam with conscious pride as the
time approaches when he may present again to
mortal vision the tiny satellites that crowned
bis appearance at the opposition of 1877. The
opposition occurring next month will not be as
favorable for observation; but the great tele-
scopes all ONtl Jut WUllu VIII Ut SCdullllS HIS
ruddy disc before this month ends. Mars rises
now about in the evening; on the 31st at half
past S. He is in the constellation Taurus, and
his movements may be watched by comparison
with the Ple1ades.
Uranus is morning star, rising now at half
past 8; at the close OF the month at half-past l..
He Is still too far away to be visible TO the
naked eye, and OF little account to ordinary
observers.
The october moon fulls on the Goth. The old
moon is in conjunction with Mars on the 4th,
ard the waning crescent and Venus will form p
brilliant picture on the morning sky of the 18th.
The new moon Of the 18th will be In conjunc-
ton with Jupiter on the oath, with Saturn on
the 2sth, and with Mars on the 31st two days
after the full. The planetary interest for the
month centers again around the movements Of
the shining trio-Jupiter Saturn and Mars
On the moonleSs evenings during the middle Of
the month, they will be beautiful to behold,
marking out with golden points the position OF
the elliptic and gtrdling the Heavens. Jupiter
VIII then be sinking to the west with dlmtn-
1shing luster, Saturn moving overhead In his
brightest phase, and Mars rising In the east
with an Increased glow Of ruddy HIGHT Propi-
Gence journal.