The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1880-01-22
Tho Planets in January.
From the Providence Journal.l


in size and brillianey, and increas-
Ing his distance from the earth, is still an
interesting object for observation. He is
moving rapidly eastward in what is called
direct motion as his path lies in the vi.
entity Of several first-magnitude stars, they
will serve as measures of his progress. He
is now approaching Aldebaren, one OF the
brightest of the red stars, and fine oppor-
tunity will thus be afforded for making com.
parative studies of the fixed stars and plan
ct that closely resemble each other. The |
regularity OF the starry arch formed by the
three planets. Mars, Saturn and lpiter, will
soon be broken. Jupiter will approach Sa-
turn, and Mars will run away from them
both at rapid pace. Those who have trac-
ed the wandering Of this trio of planets dur
ing the summer and autumn have enjoyed
delightful Illustrations of planetary move
ments, and can easily comprehend the laws
that regulate their course. 1t must be re-
membered that Mars appears to pass through
one Of the consultations of the zodiac in
about two months, while it takes Jupiter
year, and Saturn two years and half to
accomplish the same amount Of celestial
space. But the observer on the earth, who
is watching the movements OF the planets,
is moving at the same time, and this ac-
counts for the escillating planetary motion,
sometimes direct, sometimes retrograde,
and sometimes stationary, whose brilliant
changes have charmed the eyes Of star-gaz-
ers. One morning last May, Mars overlook
Jupiter in the eastern sky, and for few
hours the fiery hue OF the one and the gold
ed glow OF the other cleaned side by side.
On the last morning of June, Mars came
close to Saturn, and there was near ap-
proach to that marvellous and rare celes-
tial phenomenon, the occultstion of one
planet by another. A month or two later,
Mars still plunging eastward, and Jupiter
moving westward, starry girdle partly
spanned the sky, marked out by the plan
etary trio at nearly equal distance. Mars
kept on his eastward course until the eQuil-
ibrium was destroyed and turning his starry
feet westward, the planetary arch once more
re-appeared IN its former beautiful proper
tions, attracting, during the last few weeks,
the attention and drawing forth the admi-
ration OF every beholder. The change in the
position OF these planets will be preceptible
during the month. for they are all moving
eastward Jupiter will be seen to come a
little nearer Saturn, and a much wider
space will intervene between Mars and Sa-
turn. As Mars rises about MONDAY, he will
be nearer the zenith in the early evening,
and we'll situated for observation. He sets
soon after 3; at the end OF the month
about 2, in the morning.
Jupiter is evening star, and rapidly ap-
preaching his conf JUNCTION with the sun, az
bis position in the western evening sky
bears witness. He sets now about half-past
at the close of the month about s.
Though travelling far away from the earth
and shorn of his brightest beams, he is su-
perb to behold, as. sinking majestically be-
low the western horizon, he asserts his claim
to the proud title Of king Of the stars. Sa-
turn Is evening star, and has little that is
noteworthy for observation during the pres.
ent month. He is travelling from US, his
murky light is growing more dim, and he
has all that he can do to take care OF him.
self, with Jupiter's mighty sphere plungine
toward him on one side and fiery Mars out.
racing him on the other. In spite of the
opposing forces he moves serenely on bis
way-setting now about midnight; at the
end Of the month about 10.
Venus is morning star, and. though less
brilliant than in December, will be beaut-
full to see throughout the mornings Of Janu.
airy while retracing her steps, she each day
draws nearer the sun, as any observer may
see by watching the time of her rising. She
rises now about 4 at the close Of the month
about s, only little more than two hours
before che sun. Mercury is morning star
throughout the month, rising about 6; al
the close Of the month about 7. He is not
very favorably situated for being seen,
though, as he now rises an hour and hall
before sun rise, he may possibly be picked
up few degrees north Of the point where
the sun will appear. Uranus is morning
star, rising about half-past o and slowly
making his way among the small stars OF
Leo wnile growing slightly brighter and
coming into better position for observation.
The January moon fulls on the 9th. The
old moon is near Uranus on the I'd. On the
morning OF the Sth the eastern sky will
present picture worth getting up early to
see; for Venus and the waning moon will
then be in conjunction, the moon being to the
right OF the planet; on the 10th the moon
and Mercury will be near each other, but
they will be hidden by the SUMS rays from
the brightest. eyed observers. The new
moon of the 18th will be very near Jupiter
during the evening hours of the 10Th near
Saturn till they set on the evening of the
18th; near Mars on the right of the planet
on the evening Of the goth, and near Mars,
on the left Of the planet, on the evening of
the 21st.