The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1879-06-21
PLANETS IN JUNE.
From the Providence Journal.

| From the Providence Journal.
The planetary record of this month will be
diversified by event of extraordinary interest
A remarkably close conjunction between Mars and
Saturn will take place on thelast day of the month
| The two planets, at their nearest approach, will
| only be separated by one minute of an arc, or the
sixtieth part of degree-an intervening space
so small that to the unasssted eye Mars will seem
| to pass directly over the more distant Saturn
Indeed, it is not improbable that an occutation
will really occur, instead of close conjunction
If this prove to be the case the astronomers of the
present century will have an almost unique phe-
nomenon to place upon their annals. We believe
there is but one well authenticated occurrence of
! the kind on astronomical records, and that is an
occultation of Jupiter by Mars the 9th of JAN
uary, 1891. A close conjunction between Mars
and Saturn Is also rarity, the last one occurring
| on the 18th of April, 1917 Unfortunately for
American star gazers, phase of closest cOnjunc
ton in this longitude will take place at about
o'clock, in the afternoon, unfavorable time for
making observations on the stars. European
scientists will be no better off but those who live
in the longitude of Australia will enjoy the envia-
BILE opportunity. As Australia is noted for its clear
sky and pure atmosphere, and possesses telescopes
of great power we may hope for full descriptions
of the rare event. Mars and Saturn will, however,
be worth looking AFTER though the best part of the
| play is over. They will rise on the Both of the
month"; not long after midnight, nearly at the same
| time, and of course not very far apart. Special
notice should be directed to a comparison of the
color of the two planets. Saturn is usually of a
dull leaden color, but when near Mars he takes on
| delicate green, the ruddy blaze of Mars produe
| ing this effect what is called the principle OF
complimentary colors. There is little else that is
| noteworthy in the history of these two planets
during the month. They are both approaching
us in their progress towards their opposition with
/ tha nd fha XIV mO baau
tiful by their increasing size and brliancy. Mars
rises now about and Saturn not far from clock.
| Jupiter is a superb morning star, beaming
brightly above the eastern horizon soon after mid
| night, reigning alone in the morning sky for an
| hour, and then followed by his brother planets
Mars and Saturn AZ a respectfuf d1stnre-e.-4afthe
three planets at present pursuing their erratic
paths in the constellation Pisces, but they will not
long remain so near together, for Mars apparently
| moves through constellation in about two months,
| Jupiter in one year and Saturn in two years and
| half. At the close of the month Jupiter rises
about half-past 10, and may be seen coming up
above the eastern horizon just after Venus sinks
| below the western.
Venus still fills her role as transcendent evening
STAR She shows her brilliant face high in the sky
soon after the sun has gone down. and lovers of the
stars never weary of admiring her soft light as she
| first appears a golden point in the glow of twi-
| light, or, later in the evening, reigns supreme
among the glittering hosts that stud the sky. She
has nearly reached her greatest distance from the
sun, and will soon commence to retrace her steps.
Mercury will join the evening stars after the lSth
when he comes into superior conjunction with the
sun, passing to the eastern side He is of no ac-
| count this month"; his conditions being unfavora
| BILE for observation.
Uranus is evening star still, family shining in
| the vicinity of Regulus, and on the last of the
month not very far away from Venus. This planet
is in good situation for telescope observation,
| and those who have once had view of his disc,
with its delicate green tint will long remember the
| unique aspect.
The June moon fuls on the 4th. In her last
quarter, she is near Jupiter the 10th, Mars on
| the 18th, and Saturn on the 18th; thus three of
the June mornings will reward early risers with
the lovely picture of planet and waning crescent.
The new moon of the 18th is in conjunction with
Mercury on the first evening of her existence, but
star and satellite invisible to terrestrial eyes.
On the 23d, when four days old, sheis at her near
est point to Venus, and that oft-repeated picture
of crescent moon and evening star will once more
be painted on the twilight sky, to the everrenewed
admiration of the beholders. On the 24th, the
moon passes near Uranus. Regulus, Castor, and
the Pollux are the bright stars in the vicinity of
Venus during the month.