The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-10-03
From the Providence Journal.J
Planets I'm October.

comes into opposition with the Sun on the
5th, when the sun, earth, and planet are ID
the same straight line, with the earth in the
centre. He is therefore at his nearest point
OF approach, and takes on his brightest hue
and largest dimensions. Even now he is
more than eight hundred million miles
away, and, at such an immense distance,
the difference between his greatest and least
.brilliancy is not large in amount, though
plainly perceptble. Thus his apparent di-
ameter is now little more than twenty
seconds OF degree; six months hence,
when iarthest from us, it will be about
fourteen seconds OF degree. Venus, un-
der the same conditions, measures sixty
two seconds at her least distance and only
nine and 4 half 1T her greatest distance.
Saturn rises now at O'Clock; on the 9th,
at sunset, and on the 31St. about O'Clock.
He should be looked for at present in the
east, an hour or two after sunset, when
sufficiently high above the horizon TO be
easily detected, and will be found consider
ably farther north than Jupiter aud
about two hours behind him. His
peculiar color OF a dull-yelloW, steady
| light, and the absence Of large Stars
! in the neighborhood, will secure bis rccoG-
milton as soon as the full moon is out or
the way. Observers who have access TO
! telescopes should improve the present op-
portunity for sight OF the most charming
telescope object in the heavens. The rings
undergo Il variety OF changes during the
thirty years required for the planets revo-
luton. Just now they are apparently rings
20 longer, but lines Of light projecting on
each side OF this golden ball OF surprising
loveliness, while the beauty Of tue picture
is increased by as many Of the eight moons
as their position and the power OF the IN
strument can summon into the field.
JUPITER is evening star, and so superb an
object in the evening sky that there is no
need TO sound his praises or call attention TO
the grand display be makes each night as
leader and king OF the starry host. But
he is moving away from our vicinity; be-
fore the month has passed his brightness
will sensibly diminish, and at the end OF
the month he will sink below the horizon
about l O'Clock. leaving the field for lesser
lights 10 take their turn for being in the as
cendant. He rises now at half-paSt /; III
the end OF the month at half-past 3.
MERCURY is evening star after the 5lh.
when he comes into superior conjunction
with the sun and sets at the same time. On.
the 31st he sets at about half-past ), only 4
half hour after the sun. He is Invisible.
throughout the month, and, safely hidden
in the SUMS rays, tracks his rapid course,
secure from terrestrial vision. .
VENUS is morning star, and rapidly reach
ing distance from the sun that makes Ter
| the object OF supreme interest among me
morning stars. She now rises 1T quarter
after 5, about threc-quarters OF an hour
before the sun; bat in the latter part OF the
month she viii rise not long after g.
mere than three hours fc!Orc tie sun. On
the goth she reaches that period OF ter great
est briIliancy, occurring thirty-slN days al
| ter her inferior conjunction. Early obseI-
yers will then he rewarded by 4 sight OF the
largest and most beautiful member OF our
| planetary system in her most beamlng
phase. Those who desire to watch her
erratic movements will see, by marking her
| course among the stars OF Leo. that she Is
moving rapidly, as she does near her con-
| functions, and that her course Is retro
Grade or westward. She is seen now
through the telescope rs waxing crescent,
resembling 4 rfew-days' old moon: but
though only q small portion OF her liluml-
mated disc is turned towards us, her IN
creased size makes her appear brighter than
when at her superior conjunction nearly
her whole enlightened orb is turned to the
earth. There is no better method OF Dc
coming familiar with this planet than 10
follow her phases from her present poSllIoh
lust coming into view after her inferior
conjunction until she comes around 10 the
same point again. This period is called her
synodic revolution. and is accomplished in
five hundred and eighty-four days, or about
twenty OF our months, during which time
she is alternately morning and evening
star. Those who follow her course In tbls
way will find the study one Of exceeding in
terest and the crisp October mornings de-
lightful season for making the effort.
| MARS is morning. star, and is rapidly
| tuking on phase that will make him pro-
minent object OF interest among the mem
bers OF the solar family. His ruddy glow
| is assuming more warlike proportions, his
size increases, and as he darts above the
horizon earlier each evening, he seems to
beam with conscious pride as the time ap-
proaches when he may present again to
mortal vision the tiny satellites that crown
| ed his appearance at the opposition OF 1871.
| The opposition occurring next month VIII
not be as favorable for observation; but
the great telescopes Sill over the world will
he scanning his ruddy disc before TINS
| month ends, and il it comes within the
| spbere OF human power, new discoveries
Will be made. Mars rises now about s III
the evening; on the 31st at half-past D.. be
is in the constellation Taurus, and his
movements may be watched by comparison
with the Pleiades.
URANUS is morning star, rising now at
half-past 3; at the close OF the month at half
past /. He is still too far away to be visible
| to the naked eye, and of little account 10
| ordinary observers. ,
The October moon iulls on the Doth. The
old moon is in conjunction with Mars on
the 4th, ard the waning crescent and venus
will foryl brilliant picture on the morning
sky OF the 18th. The new moon OF the lolh
will he in conjunction with Jupiter on the
oath, with Saturn on the 2Sth, and with
Ma, 5 on the 31st, two days after the full.
The planetary interestfor the month cen
Tres again around tue movements OF the
! shining trio, Jupiter. Saturn. and Mars
On the moonless evenings during the mid
I die of the month they will be beautiful 10
behold, marking out With golden polntsthe
zposition OF the ecliptic and gird!ing the
heavens. Jupiter will then be sinking tc
the west with diminishing lustre, Saturn
moving overhead in his brightest phase
Land Mars rising in the east with an lncgeas
ing glow Of ruddy. light.
| . - -, yr,o., c~{rps font pas ho6Iy