The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-01-03
rne heavens In january.

THE BRIGHTEST STARS syISIBLE-PERI0DIC VA
RIATIoNs OF ALGoL, MARS, AND SATURN.
During January aud February the heavens
present the most interesting views to the
naked eye. Nearly all OF the brightest stars
and the nfost beautiful consultations are
above the horizon the greater part OF the
long nights. The glittering orbs which
guided the ancient mariners, and by which
the navigG tors Of modern times have been
enabled to make oceans "the highways Of
nations "a. n all be traced without the as
sistancc i re telescope the first months Of
the yeH.
Abo,r the middle of January Carella, the
princiraI star III Auriga, will be nearly
overhead at 10 O'Clock. at the same time
Repulus in Leo will be almost due east about
25o above the horizon. BetelgueX and Ri
Gel, the brightest stars in Orion. will be near
the meridian, and in the northeast by north
the stars comprising the Dipper in the Great
Bear may appear. while the Pleiades, Hy-
AIDES, Castor, PolluX, and the diamond OF
Pegasus can all be traced in the nocturnal
sky. In addition TO these the most in
teresting OF the variable stars, Algoi, in the
head of Medusa, may be observed in
the northwest. about 600 high. The
changes in the brightness Of the star when
near to the times Of its greatest dimness can
be noticed with the unaided eye, and 1t IS
said that the French astronomer Lalande
was in the habit OF lingering on some OF
the bridges over the Seine and directing the
attention OF the passers-by to the variations
in the light of this nocturnal sun. In about
three and haif hours Algol passes from Il
star OF the second magnitude to one Of the
fourth, continues less brilliant for about
fifteen minutes, and in three and half
hours returns to its former brightness,
which it retains for. a period OF
between sixty and siXty-one hours.
Why these changes occur are ques-
tions which scientists cannot fully an
swer. Some have supposed them to be
caused by seml-opaque body passing at
regular intervals around the star, while
Others, with greater probability, have adj
vanced the theory that one portion OF AL
col is less luminous than the rest, and that
by the revolution of that body on its axis
the darker parts are turned at stated Pc
riods toward the earth. II this is the real
cause OF the henomenon, it shows that
those distant suns, like the central lumi-
nary Of the solar system, revolye on an
axis, and it also affords another proof OF
the similarity between thus@ orbs, which
| irradiate the sky and the .reat source OF
| light and heat to the earth.
During january Venus will increase in
| briliancy rs the evening star, and Jupiter,
| which has shown with such beauty during
the autumn. will at the close Of the month
be near its conjunction with the sun, and
| will not appear again rs evening star until
| September.
Saturn, though one OF the most interest.
| ing of the planets when viewed through the
| telescope. reveals none Of those wonders to
| 4 x.,lt oh prlo Gali RI
| which Huyghens half century later found
| to be due to rings surrounding the planet
| Mars. which eighteen months ago attracted
so much attention by the discovery of it
moons, is gradually increasing its distance
from the earth, and is becoming less con
spicuous. No planet exhibits a greatcl
difference in brilliancy than Mars Wher
in opposition to the sun, and when
near its conjunction with that lumi
nary. When at its least distance iron
the earth this planet has been examined
with more success than any other OF III
heavenly bodies. Numerous drawings o
the appearances presented by its surface
have been made, and striking proofs hav
been obtained Of resemblance in the eli
matte changes in rain and snow and III Ions
narrow eXDanses Of water similar to Wha
| is observed on the globe which forms tn
| residence of man. But while the earth ma.
| be regarded as a humid planet, two third
OF its surface being covered by water, a
| least one half of the area OF Mars Is Or.
land. Its period of rotation on its axis, O
| its day, is nearly the same as a day on tn
earth; but its year. or period OF revolution
around the sun, is almost equal to two year
| on the earth. The seasons, therefore, OF
| Mars are about double the length OF thos'
witnessed by the inhabitants OF this sublu
nary sphere. Journal.