Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1879-08-13
WHOLE NO. 1922
Planets In August.

Venus Is evening star, On the 10th
she reaches her point Of greatest bril-
liancy, and sharp'eyei observers who
know where TO look may then obtain
u glimpse Of her before the sun setr.
or watch the shadow she casts a.
night 10 the absence Of the moon
Venus sets now about nine o'clock
Her rapid approach to tho sun night
after night will be evident TO the most
causual observer, as will be her rapid
increase IN brilllancy until tho 10th,
after which she will be 40 near the
sun as 10 10 quickly hidden by bis
bright rays At the end Of the month
she will set about seven, only hall an
hour after the sun, aud then for nearly
year the queen OF stars will be miss
ed from tho westward sky.
Jupiter deserves to be ranked with
tho evening stars, although the calend'
cr does not give him y place there
until tho last Gay OF the month.
IIc comes into opposition with the
sun en- the 3lst, aud is then at his
mos, brilliant point to terrestrial view,
being more than one hundred and
eight millions OF miles nearer 10 us
than when farlhest off. The earth Is
between the sun and Jupiter, and as
the planets position in the heavens is
then opposite the sun, he is said to be
in opposition. Thus the two largest
aud brightest planets OF the system
will reach their eliminating points
during the month, and observers will
not tail to enjoy as we'll as contrast
the soitened radiance OF Venus in the
west with the brighter glow OF Jnpi-
ter in the east. 1t must also be re-
membered that our mighty brother
planet is approaching his much. dread.
ed periheion, reaching it next year in
September, and that in the interven.
ing period and the two Or more years
succeeding, all manner OF atmospher.
ical disturbances are to be expected.
The vast mass OF Jupiter, when ap-
preaching fifty millions Of miles near.
er to the great central luminary, must
inevitably create a commotion among
his incandescent elements, and every
disturbance in the sun is reflected to
the remotest bound in the solar sys-
TEN. The men of science are there
fore watching the dawn Of the eleven.
year period, and the inauspicous com
bination of the perihelion passages of
the four great planets, with an inten-
sity OF interest proportioned to its i'm
portance, while Jupiter, the superb
star challenging our admiration
throughout the month, is the chief
sinner among the shining quartette.
He rises now at a quarter before nine
o'clock on the last day of the month,
Just as the sun sets, aoout half-past
six.
Saturn Is morning star. He may
be easily recognized in the southeast
by his peculiar dull yellow tint, and
the absence OF any other bright stars
from his vicinity. He rises now about
ten o'clock; at the end of the month
he rises not long after eight.
Mars is morning star, and notice.
able tor his increasing size and more
ruddy light, as he approaches opposi-
tion, and the possible discovery of
more moons, to add to the laures that
crown the brows of the astronomers
Of the nineteenth century. He rises
now about eleven at the end of the
month about halfpas nine.
Mercury is evening star until the
23d, when he comes into inferior con-
junction with the sun, and commences
his short role rs morning star. He is
of little account to observers, as he
keeps too near the sun 10 be visible.
The month of August is honored
by the adven. of two full moons. one
of the I'd and one on the 3lst The
waning moon is near Jupiter on the
fourth, Saturn on the seventh and
Mars on the nineth. The new moon
on the 18th is in conjunction with
Mercury and Uranus when one day
old, but they are too near the sun to
be visible to observers on this planet.
The moon is near Venus on the 20th.
and il the clouds are kind our lovely
neighbors will present an additional
attraction, for 1t is positively their last
appearance together tor many months.
The moon and Jupiter are in conjunc.
ton on the 3Oth. one day before the
tull. - Providence Journsl.
1t was an Irishman who remarked
of a miser who had died and was