Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-08-04
THE EVENING STAR.
Planets In August.

Planets I'm August.
Venus is evening star, and far outshnes her
sparkling peers In size and radiant light. on
me 18th she reaches her point OF greatest bril-
nancy, and Sharp-eyed observers who know
Sefere 70 ook may then obtain glimpse OF her
she CASTS at night In the absence OF the
moon. Ihere are two OF these points In her
far car Inis one occurring thirty SIX days before
Ler in1er1or conjunction, and ther other occur
ring IN october thirty six days after It. Viewed
lhIougn the telescope, she now presents the
pase ot waning crescent, but owing TO her
nearly six times as great as when she IS Earth.
est on. Venus sets now about nine O'Clock.
Her rapid approach to the sun night after night
Will De evident to the most casual observer as
VIII oe her rapid Increase In brllliancy until the
18th, after which she viii be so near the sun as
to be quickly hidden by his bright rays. AT the
an hour after the sun, and then for nearly A
year the Queen OF Stars will be missed from the
western sky.
Jupiter deserves to be ranked with the even.
ing stars, although the calendar does not give
him place there until the last day OF the
month. He comes into opposition with the sun
on the 3lSt, and II is then at his most brilliant
point TO terrestrial view, being more than one
hundred and eighty millions OF miles nearer to
us than when farthest Off. The earth Is be-
tween the sun and Jupiter. and as the planets
position Ia the heavens is then opposite the sun.
ne is said to be Ia opposition. Thus the two
largest and brightest planets of the sySten VIII
Ieach their eliminating points during the
month, and observers VIII not fail to enjoy as
Wen as contrast the softened radiance OF Venus
IN lne west with the brighter glow OF Jup,ter
III IN, .t,e sast. II must also be remembered thar
our mighty brother planet Is approaching his
much dreaded perlheIion. reaching it next year
In september, and that In the Intervening pertod
ara lheI TWO or more years succeeding, all manner
OF atnospherical disturbances are to be eX-
pected: The vast mass OF Jupiter when ap.
preaching fifty millions OF miles nearer to the
great central lumtnary, must inevitably create
Qrsan Is iyaf.n
and every disturbance In the sun Is reflected 70
the remotest bound of the solar system, The
men or science are therefore watching the dawn
OF the eleven-y cal period, and the 1nauspIclous
combination OF the perihelion passages of the
four great planets, With an intensity OF Interest
proportioned to It's Importance, while Jupiter
The superb star challenging our admiration
throughout the month, is the chief sinner among
the shining quartet. He rises now at quarter
before nine O'Clock; on the last day OF the
month, just as the sun sets, about half-past six.
Saturn Is morning star. He has departed
from his close companOnship with Mars, and
may be easily recognized In the southeast by
LIS peculiar dull yellow tint, and the absence or
aDy other bright stars from his vicinity. He
rises now about ten O'clock nearly an hour aud
half after Jupiter; at the end OF the month he
rises not long after eight.
increasing size and more rudy light as he ap-
proacheS opposition, and the possible discovery
OF more moons TO add to the laurelS that crown
inc oIows OF the astronomers of the nineteenth
A.
OF the month about half-past nine
Mercury is evening star until the 23d when
ne comes into inferior conjunction with the
sun, and commences his short role as morning
STAR
Uranus Is evening star until the 18th, when
ne comes into conjunction with the sun, after
Which he shines among the morning stars He
sets now about $, but is TOO far away to be seen
by the naked eye. After his conjunction he
rises before the sun.
The waning moon is near Jupiter on the 4th,
Saturn On the It'll, and Mars on the 9TH The
neon Is near Venus on the Goth, and II the
clouds are kind our lovely celestial neighbors
will present an additional attraction for it Is
positively their last appearance together for
many months. The moon and Jupiter are In
conjunction on the 30th, one day before the full
Thus the skies OF the soft summer nights
Will be full OF interest for human obServa-
ton. Two full moons will shed their rounded
radiance over the sleeping earth, and flood the
landscape and seascape with silvery light.
Jupiter VIII reign supreme In the early eastern
sky, and Venus In the height OF her renown
west Later In the night, Mars and Saturn viii
divide the starry honors with Jupiter, the ce-
lest1al trio gaining In size and brightness as
they approach their opposition. The earth viii
plough her way through the August meteor
zone, and myriad mete0rs diSSolving In fiery
tears Will give evidence of the annual passage
Besides all this, there Will be con1unctionS and
opposfttons visible and Invisible Of the great
celestial forces, as well as q rarely beautiful
phenomenon in the occuitation Of the red star
AntareS, the leading brilliant In Scorpio by the
moon On the evening OF the oath, not far from
haf-past ten.-[ Providence Journal.