The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-08-04
fFrom the Providence Journal
Planets I'm sAuSuSt,

serves the place of, honor among the myste-
lious twinklerS throughout the month, for
she dons her most beautiful garments, and
far outshines her sparkling peers in size
and radiant light. On the 18th she reaches
her point.of greatest briliancy, and sharp
eyed observers who know where: 10 look
may then obtain glimpse OF her before the
sun sets, or watch the shadow she casts at
night in the absence OF the moon. There
are two Of these points in her career, this one
occurring thirty-siX days before her inferior
conjunction and the other occurring in Octo-
Der, thirty-six days after it. Viewed through
the telescope, she now presents the phase
OF a waning crescent, but, owing to her
nearness to the earth, her apparent dMme-
ter is nearly six times as great rs when she
is farthcst of. Venus sets now about 9
O'Clock. Her rapid approach 10 the sun
night after night will be evident to the most
casual observer, as will be her rapid ill.,
crease in brilliancy until the 18th, after
which she will be so near the sun as TO be
quickly hidden by his bright rays. At me
end OF the month she will set about I, only
hall an hour after the sun, and then Tor
nearly year the Queen OF Stars will be
missed from the western sky.
| JUPITER deserves to be ranked with the
| evening SUITS, khC uoSS hob
give him place there uatil the last day OF
the month. He comes into opposition with
the sun on the 31st, and is then at bis most
brilliant point to terrestrial view, being
more than one hundred and eighty millions
of miles nearer to us than when fartheSt OIL.
The earth is between the sun and Jupiter,
and rs the planets position in the heavens
is then opposite the sun, he is said to be IN
opposition. Thus the two largest and
brightest planets OF the system will reach
| their eliminating points during the month,
and observers will not fail to enjoy as well
as contrast the softened radiance Of Venus
in the west with the brighter glow OF Jupi-
ter in the east. He rises now at a quarter
before 8 o'clock; on the last day OF the
month, Just as the sun sets, about half-paSt 6.
SATURN is morning star. He has departed
from his close companionship with Mars,
and may be easily recognized in the south
east by his peculiar dull yellow tint and the
absence OF any other bright stars from bis
vicinity. He rises now about 10 O'Clock,
nearly an hour and a half after Jupiter; at
the end OF the month he rises not long
after s.
MARS is morning star, and noticeable for
his increasing size and more ruddy light rs
he approaches opposition, and the possible
laurels that crown the brows Of the astrono-
mers OF the nineteenth century. He rises
now about IL at the end Of the month about
hali-past Q.
MERCURY is evening star until the 23d,
when he comes into inferior conjunction
with the sun, and commences his short role
rs morning star. Uc is OF little account to
observers, as he kecTs too near the sun TO
be visible, unless it may he for week in
the early part of the month, when he may
possibly be picked up soon after sunset ii
,he sky is cloudless and the atmosphere
clear.
URANUS is evening star until the 2Stb,
when he comes into conjunction with the
sun, after which he shines among the morn
ing stars. He sets now about s, but is too
tar away TO be seen by the naked eye. After
his conjunction he rises before the sun.
The month OF August is honored by the
advent OF two full moons-one on the I'd
and one on the 31st. The waning moon is
near Jupiter on the 4th, Saturn on the 7th,
| and Mars on the 9th. The new moon OF the
! 18th is in conjunction with Mercury and
Uranus when one day old, but they are all
too near the sun to be visible to observers
on this planet. The moon is near Venus on
the 10th, and il 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
tion. Two full moons will she'd their
rounded radiance over the sleeping earth
and flood the landscape and seascape With
siIvery light. Jupiter will reign supreme
in the early eastern sky, and Venus, in the
height OF her renown, will hang in pensile
beauty amid the glowing west Later in
| the night Mars and Saturn will divide the
starry honors with Jupiter, the celestial trio
! gaining in size and brightness as they ap.
Droach their opposition. The earth will
plough her way through the August me-
teor-Zone, and myriad meteors dissolring
in fiery tears VIII give evidence OF the
annual passage. Besides all this, there
will be conjunctions and oppo>ltions
visible and invisible of the great celestial
forces, as well as a rarely beautiful phe-
nomenon in the occultation OF the RED star
Antares, the leading brilliant in Scorpio, by
the moon on the evening OF the 24th not
far from half.past 10. Observers will,have
busy work in tracing out the movements
here indicated on the glowing map which
every star-lit night lies open above our
heads. II the pleasure-seekers among the
mountains, in rural retreats, and on the sea-
shore, would cultivate taste for astronomy,
how grand and uninterrupted would be
their field for nightly observation, and how
ennobling and eXaltlng the study OF the
star-spancled armament that nightly renews
its miracles of beauty to earnest and appre'
ciative eyes. ...,..... ........s..
ns cnnnrnl lhart Sydney Johnston 1t Is