The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1879-09-09
THE PRESS.
Planets in September.

Jupiter is evening star and reigns supreme
among the glittering hosts that on moonless
nights make the sky tremulous with brightness.
He has just passed his opposition with the sun;
and, during the first part of the month"; IS
arrayed in his most brilliant tints, assuming the
regal air that BELTS the mythic father OF gods
and men. He rises now at half-past six, few
minutes before sunset; on the last day OF the
month he will rise at half-past four, more than
an hour before sunset He is therefore in eX-
cellent position for observation during the
whole month, though, travelling away from us,
he will soon show perceptible diminution IN
size and brilliancy. He is now superb object
as he comes darling above the eastern horizon
in the twilight and rises majestically to the
meridian. reaching it about midnight. Astron-
omers have not failed to improve the opportu-
nifty to scan the surface of our brother planet
beaming so brightly on these summer nights
They find the seeming serenity nothing but
myth huge commotion is taking place IN
his cloud-zone, and rent $1,000 miles in diam
eter is conspicuous on his chaotic surface,
through which some observers think we catch
a glimpse of the red-hot body of the planet as
it lies beneath the cloudy envelope Moreover
the delicately-tinted zones that diversity the
disc give evidence of mighty changes. Inc
great central belt seems to be broken up into
masses of white clouds; the unprecedented out
OF belts have invaded the equatorial regions;
narrow, irregular salmon-colored belts adorn
the surface, about halfway to the poles, and
the blue coloring about the poles has perceptl-
bly, diminished in intensity But how can we,
Al: hon To
prehend connections based on a scale so vas? ?
1t would take thirteen hundred globes like ours
heaped together to equal the giant of our sys-
tenn in volume, and though four hundred mil
lions of miles away, we can measure with
instruments of matchess skill, a rift in his
cloud-zone more than twice the size OF the
earth, science must advance with rapid strides
before key is found to unravel its meaning.
1t may be that we are getting an inkling of
world-growth, and that through these vast up
heayals, Jupiter is gradually cooling down to
conditions fitted for animate life. Observations
like these will lend new interest to the benlg-
nant star that rules the month, and which, for
a year to come, will not be so favorably situated
for star-gaZerS.
Venus is evening-star during the greater por-
ton of the month"; but her brilliant beauty is
almost obscured by her near approach to the
sun. She, may, however, be seen for few
days, as she sets few minutes after o'clock,
about half an hour after sunset. On the sd q
great epoch occurs in her history, for she comes
into inferior conjunction with the sun, passing
directly between us and the sun, and reappear-
ing on his western side as morning star. On
the last of the month she rises about half-past
5, half hour before the sun, and sharp-eyed
observers may get a sight of her as she first
takes tangible form in her new role. Every
one will regret the loss of her beaming presence
in the western sky, but early riscrs will soon be
rewarded with glimpse of her serene face as
she passes through the phases that mark her
course as morning star, when ushering in the
day she proves her right to the poetic name OF
Lucifer, the Light-Bearer, bestowed upon heI
by ancient astronomers.
Saturn is ranked among the morning stars
though he rises now about 8; at the end of the
month he will rise few minutes after 6. He
is growing brighter and larger as he rapidly ap-
proaches the earth, coming into opposition with
the sun early next month. He. may readily be
found on moonless evenings, rising about two
hours after Jupiter, and farther north. His
dull, murky light, as well as the absence OF
twnkling and also of any large stars in his vi
cinity, will prove his identity. His best posi-
ton for observation will be on the last OF the
month when nearly in his brightest phase.
Mars is morning star, and rapidly assuming
proportions that during the next month will
make him the observed of all observers. He
rises now at half-paSt ., on the last OF the
month at eight o'clock.
Mercury is morning-star, rising on the first of
the month at about half-past 4, on the last at
half-past 5. He reaches his greatest western
elong CATION on the 9th and is then i'll one of
the four favorable positions that occur during
the year. He may be picked up by the keen
eyed observers little north of the point Of
sunrise. On the 18th Mercury and Uranus are
in conjunction and on the 26 Mercury and
sII,onus are in conjunction, but the all powerful
vision. f-0'NO'
Uranus is morning star, but 10 II. ;s invisible
to the naked eye, his movements are not Vi
much account. None the less surely he is TAX
ing his slow course in the constellation Leo
rising now about 5, and at the close of the
month about half past 3.
The September moon fulls on the Both. The
old moon comes into conjunction with Saturn
the Sd, with Mars ON the 9th, and with Uranus
and Mercury on the 14th. The new moon of
the 10th is in conjunction with Venus the
same day, with Jupiter on the 9th, and with
Saturn on the Both.
The planetary interest of the month concen-
trates on the movements of the brilliant trio
Jupiter, Saturn and Mars-as they rise in sue
cesson above the eastern horizon and tread
the celestial pathway with their starry feet
throughout the night During the larger
portion of the month they will enjoy almost
sole possession of the shining field, but as its
close draws near formidable rival will enter
the lists. The peerless harvest moon will dim
their bright beams, as approaching the full
she shines each night with increasing lustre,
until on the last day of the month, srising in
full-orbed radiance above the horizon as soon
as the sun has set, she pours a flood of silver
light over the earth that seems to prolong the
day and eclipse all but few of the brightest of
the stars-Providence Journal.