The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-03-07
planets sn March.

fhNVals PtESseaiiAivs1ssS 10y eastsses
fors nc. other .s,sapet disputes her sway es-:
cent Mercury for q few evenings near the
end OF the month. She Is becoming more
brilliant and conspicuous every night as she
approaches the earth and remains longer
above the horizon. Every observer will adj
mire the superb beauty Of this radiant star,
as suddenly appearing from the depths OF
SPACE soon after sunset, she puts on her
starry crown and reigns supreme, tne
brightest and fairest Of the stars. She holds
her court without rival until The 24tn,
when the most interesting planetary cxhlbl-
ton o. the month takes place. Venus. Mel-
curry, and the new moon OF the 22d are then
in conjunction, and the celestial trio Will
form charming group in the.tWillght glow
of the evening sky. Venus sets now at
hasf-past 2; at the end Of the month at
quarter before 8. Gi&
MERCURY is evening star after the 4th,
coming into superior conjunction with the
sum- He reaches his greatest eastern elon-
CATION on the 29th, and is then in one OF
the most favorable conditions for observa-
ton that will occur during the year. At
that time, and few days before and after,
he NAV be seen little south offhe point
where Venus sets. On the 29,h he sets
about 8 o'clock. an hour and o half after
sunset; thus an excellent opportunity is
afforded for peep at the swit-footed and
fiery planet. -,ss-T- - : ~-;,''..,l
81 SATURN will be morning star after the
26th, being then in conjunction with the
sim and too near him to be visible during
the greater part OF the month. He is now
at his greatest distance from the earth
more than ten hundred millions Of miles
and for month OF two will be so oYershad-
owed blythe SUMS all-powerful rays that he
will be blutted out OF existence to terres-
trial observers. .r. 80. ..-
JUPITER is morning star and fast emerg-
ing from the temporary eclipse caused by
his nearness to the sun. He may be easily
seen by the middle OF the month in the
southeast. not long before sunrise. On the
31st he rises at about .half-past 4, an hour
and three-quarters before=the sun, and a
glimpse OF his bright face when &C the morn
Ing light is breaking" will amply repay, the
early riser for the effort requisite to enjoy
the scene. On the Goth, Jupiter is in con-
junction with the waning crescent OF the old
moon two days before the change. Planet,
moon, and rosy-6ngered dawn will make a
celestial show worth seeing. Our giant
brother is coming towards lis and assuming
larger proportions, though be will have to
make more than another apparent circuit OF
the skies before reaching, in September,
1880, his periheIion, an epoch that will be
watched with intense interest by the physlc-
lists OF this small sphere.
MARS is morning star, though compare
lively little interest is attached to bis move
ments during the month. He rises now a
little after 4, and at the end Of the month at
haf-past 8. He is in the constellation Sagit-
tarius. and is visible us small red star in
the southeast in the early morning hours.
URANUS is evening star; and in good po-
sition for observation, coming to the me-
ridian about 10 O'Clock on the last Of the
month. He can then be detected by the
naked eye on clear, moonless evenings, in
the constellation Leo, between Regulus, the
leading brilliant, and the; small star Rho
LeoniS. II
The March moon fuls on the 9Th. She
will be near Uranus on the 7th, entirely
eclipsing his faint light; near Mars on the
17th. when three days past her last quarter,
and near Jupiter on the Goth, when slen'
der waning crescent.
THE ZoDIACAL LIGHT has been unusually
brilliant during many evenings in February,
its vivid coloring making the surrounding
heavens dark in comparison. TINS interest,"
ing phenomenon may be seen ON any clear,
moonless evening in March. 1t becomes
visible about an hour after sunset rs Z
column OF soft white light, the base OF the
cone resting on the part of the horizon
where the sun went down, and the apex
reaching to the Pleiades. The soft glow o'
the mysterious light differs from every other
appearance in the sky, and no Wordsrcan
describe the ETHEREAL delicacy, the hmyszfexl' t.l
ture, and softened brilliancy OF. this celeS'
tiaI visitor, as strangely incomprehenslble
as it is exquisitely beautiful.-ferovadence
.i0nrrnI. - -