The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-02-10

Z 'r lystt ---------------7 II. Ss{sgS! pEstst
! THE WEATHER ON SATURDAY was, partly
cloudy and cool. (, xx..stg<!Eg ...iHERs .
THERMoYETER SATURDAY: 6 A.. IT,, So;
g 4. NJ, So; noon. 46; 8 r. M, s46; 6sP.
a., Al midnight So. 3:s =, I'm, 80, -, q
| Mean temperature; SO Sc - =: ,a,,f.ris
s.-e..-a--s-.-..~.s.s-.s..s. tt.gtfi:y' Il
| <Fs'ttza planets I'm .Febrnary.l' .sgsiA ,gt.5 :.
I VENUS, the Queen Oh: the. Stars, will be
the most interesting ,pIanet fofss OBS sefYation
during the MONTH She was. in superior
with the snrE on the 9TH Of last
December, when she passed to his eastern
side, and commented her role: as evening
sssrsss hasnshee alsezsg eyer since
lbs be easily visible, but Us now FAR enough
distant to be detected oin's the twilight, half
ali hour after sunset. The planet must be
Hooked for q little to the north OF the point
where the sun went down, and as her dis
tance' from the great luminarv is Increasing,
and the time OF her setting IS later every
I'eyenjnr. she will soon become the distin-
gushing feature Of the early evening sky,
dartipg from the midst OF the twilis ht
glow, and increasing in beauty till she sinks
beneath the horizon. She sets now about
Ehalf-past 6, q little more than an hour after
sunset: at the end OF the month she VIII
not set until about haf-past I. There is no
better opportunity in her whole course TO
follow the erratic movement, mysterious TO
ancient astronomers, but simple ana COM
prehensble, even TO the unscientlhc mlna,
under the teachings OF modern science.
To an observer on the earth, the nearer
planets seem to oscllate in straight lines
on each side of the sun. Venus is
now passing through this phase OF,
1 orc ffy from
him, until the 18th OF July, when she
REACHES her greatest eastern clongation
She will then approach the sun, increasing
in brightness. until the 23d Of September
when, at her inferior CONJUNCTION, she passes
between the earth and the sun, closes heI
role OF evening STAR, and reappears on his
western side in due time to become visible
rs morning star, and repeat the process ir
reversed order. ANY intelligent observer
OF this planet can keep the run OF her move
ments, and with little help from an astro
nomical textbook learn 10 comprehend tnt
laws that guide her course as well as ad
mire her tranScendent beauty.
JUPITER comes into superior conjunction
with the sun on the 9Th OF the month Ht
then rises and sets with the sun, and, pass
ing to his western side, becomes mornlni
star. He is too near the sun to be Visibl
during the month. Admirers Of star-li
beauty will miss tue planet that has lent
brilliant lustre to the evening sky since las
|: July. He is now at bis least size and great
est distance. ...... ..... ..,ss....
SATURN is evening star, and is easily re
Icognized, though diminishing IN size as b
goes farther from US and approaches his 50
perior onjunction. He sets now at 8, an
lat the end OF the month viii set at hall
past 7. > .r =,
MARS is morning star, but not favorabi
situated for observation, as he Is far sout
Iamong the small stars OF Sagittarius. H
Erises about 4, nearly three hours before sun
Erise, and can he seen to the best advantas
early in the morning. II ..sss3 z {.
MERCURY Is morning star, speeding hi
way from his western elongation to his 81
perior conjunction. Even the brightest ey
will fail TO catch a glimpse Of him durin
!, the month. On the morning OF tn
10th Mercury, Jupiter. and the sler
= der crescent of the waning moon will b
: near together, but the vicinity OF the sn
will conceal the celestial phenomenon fror
, the view or terrestrial observers. ....
| URANUS is evening star, and better situ
I ated for observation than any other plane
during the month, for he comes into oppc
0 sition with the sun on the oath, and rise
nearly as the sun sets. 1t is a tiny star O
account OF it immense distance, but ma
be found on clear, moonless night near tl
Rho Eeonfs. A small telescope will reve
a disc Of light, greenish color, and prov
e that the object is planet. and not sta
= Uranus is the smallest of the four gre
planets that revolve in what is at presel
!, considered the outermost portion OF the S
lar system, his volume being only seVent
two times that of the earth. Though he
at his nearest point, he is more than seve
enteen hundred millions of miles dis:an
and yet the human eye is so delicately co
stituted that the waves OF light bridge oV
{ this vast space, and plainly reveal the pan
to the unaided vision.
The February moon fulls OH the 9th, ar
q the new moon Of the goth exhibits on ti
i evening sky OF the 22d one Of the mo
charming pictures in her repertoire. 1t
the conjunction Of the two-days-old ere
cent with Venus, the brilliant evening sta
d Every one can behold the pheEo omenon
the weather is propitious. No one wi
: commands viewsof the portion oil westel
. sky where the sun went below the horizc
will then need directions for finding Il
Eplanet, and no one can look upon the su
EDassing loveliness Of the pale crescent ar
Ebeaming star without being deeply ana re
,erently Impressed with the exceeding beal
ty of the celestial picture. .-Prouiden
|.JouTndt. -a.s