Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-11-14

to turn dishonest penny by the misery Of
their own kindred. RADIx
Planets In November.
Mars is evening star after the 18th, and
holds the place of honor among the members
of the solar family throughout the month A
| great event takes place on his records His
| opposition occurs on the 18TH and never was
this celestial phenomenon anticipated with
such eager interest, for the opposition of
| 1917 was the epoch of one of the greatest as
Economical discoveries of the present century.
| Two tiny satellites were found tracking their
rapid course within the glare of light sur
rounding this ruddy planet, and who knows
If closer observation may not reveal as many
| more, and some new discoverer share the
| honor with Prof. Hall The Martan moons.
though late in the field are now members of
the solar system in full standing They are
named from the horses that drew the chariot
of Mars, personifcd by Homer in the Iliad as
his sons or attendants. The name of the
outer satellite is Deimos. 1t revoves around
the primary in about thirty hours, at a dis
tance of fourteen thousand and five hundred
miles from the centre of the planet its d-
ameter is very small, probably between six
and fourteen miles, and it is of about the
thirteenth magnitude. The inner satellite is
known as Phobos it is the larger and bright
or Of the two, being about the twelfth mag
nitude and mile or two more in diameter
than its brother moon. 1t performs its rev.
olution in the surprisingly short time of "A
little more than seven hours and half, at the
distance of nearly six thousand miles from
the planets centre. Thus the Marian inhab-
itants have moon only four thousand miles
mob -.
revolutions while the planet is turning on its
axis, rising in the west and setting in the
east, and meeting and passing the slower
moving outer moon The Marian astrono-
mers must have plenty of occupation in
watching the erratic movements Of their
nearest celestial neghbors, but we would not
change our stately and dignified satellite for
dozen just like them. Mars is not SO near
to us at the present opposition as he was in
1917, but as he is in northern declination he
will be more favorably situated for ohserva-
tion. Prof Hall gives the time from the
10th of October TO the 10Th of November as
the period in which the satellites may be Wis
ible, but n European observer has already
succeeded i'll picking mp Deimos on the 22d
of September. The best telescopes all over
the world are now concentrating their high
est powers on the brilliant evening star shin
ing so brightly in the eastern sky. All that
human effort can accomplish will be done,
while practiced eyes and patient observation
will reveal all that can be learned of the
moons of Mars. On the first of the month.
the planet rises at half past five on the 18th
at sunset, and on the last of the month about
three o'clock. Mars is now in his best posi-
tion for observation, dartug above the east
ern horizon shortly after the sun sinks below
the western, and reaching the meridian soon
after midnight at an altitude OF nearly seven
ty degrees. Above him beams the lovely
cluster of the Pleiades, and below him shines
bright Aldebaran, prominent red star aud
the leading brilliant of the Hyades.
Saturn is evening star, but his pale lustre
is diminishing as he approaches the sun and
increases his distance from us. He is still an
object of interest, however in the evening
sky, as he rises slowly toward the zenith, be-
tween Jupiter and Mars, his dull tint being
oyershadowed by the golden glow of the one
and the ruddy hue of the other. He is at
present beautiful object for telescope OBJ
servation, for his rings are slowly opening
and the spaces between them and the planet
are clearly visible. The rings, the belted
disc, and the beaming moons make up a pic
ture of unsurpassed loyeliness in the grand
celestial picture gallery. Saturn now rises
about four and sets about four in the morn
ing. At the close of the month he will rise
nearly at two, and set at two the next morn
ing.
Jupiter is evening star and though lovely
to behold, his glory is waning but those
who have watched his brighter course in the
eastern heavens for the last two months will
be interested to trace his waning glory, as
during this month he tracks his course in the
west. On the 26th he is in quadrature, or
half way between opposition and conjunc-
tion with the sun. lie sets now about at
the end of the month about
Mercury is evening star, reaching his great
est eastern elongation on the 2Oth. As this
is one Of the four periods during the year
when he is fayorably situated for observation
as an evening star, very bright eyes may pos
sibly catch sight of him about that time,
soon after sunset and not far from the point
where the sun went down. The atmosphere
must be exceptionally clear and the sky
cloudless TO give a chance of success. Mer-
curry sets now at about half past > ; at the end
of the month at nearly the same time, which,
however, will then be an hour after sunset.
Venus is morning star, and will be splen-
did object to behold throughout the mornings
Of November, Though she has passed her
period Of greatest brilliancy, she leads the
morning stars, and anticipates the dawn as
she travels westward from the sun toward
her greatest elongation. Consequently she
rises earlier each morning, showing her glow
lub lhSc hOoNe luc uOTlLOu lew luluulth III
ter 3, more than three hours berore sunrise.
At the close of the month, she rises at the
same time, which will then be nearly four
hours before sunrise. All who can command
view Of the eastern horizon will be amply
rewarded for the trouble required in obtain
ing sight of the fairest of the stars as she
holds her court among the starry hosts and
heralds the breaking of the morning light
and the coming of the majestic luminary that
will hide her lesser beams
Uranus is morning star, rising at half past
at the end of the month he rises at half
past /. He is now of little account to astron-
omical observers, as he slowly makes his
way among the stars of Leo. 1t takes him
seven years to pass through constellation,
and eighty-four to complete a revolution
round the sun. This planet was discovered
in 1881 by Herschel, who named it Georgium
Sidus the star of the Georges. Two lines
from an ancient poem, written before Neptune
was discovered, will serve to keep the time of
its revolution in the memory;
The Georgium sidus next appears,
By his amazing distance known;
The lapse Of more than eighty years,
In his account makes one alone
The November moon fulls ON the 2Sth.
The old moon is in conjunction with Uranus
on the Sth. On the morning of the 10th,
Venus and the slender crescent will form one
OF the loveliest pictures of the month, rising
nearly together. On the 18th, the new moon
will be in conjunction with Mercury, the
planet being between the crescent and the |
horizon. On the 2lst the moon will be near
Jupiter, on the 24th near Saturn on the 2Gth |
near Mars at midnight.
The planetary interest of the month centers
around Mars, the moonless evenings at the time |
of his opposition being favorable for watching |
his movements Venus comes in for large |
share of attention as Lucifer, the lght-bearer |
in the early morning hours, and Mercury is |
to he picked up about the 2Oth. The No |
vember meteors must not be forgotten among |
objects of interest. They will be seen from |
the 18th to the 10th, though observers who |
desire a grand display will have to wait for |
tho chowar which agironnnnara T,ror,ica in |