The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-03-10
Planets I'm March.

the planetary brotherhood during the month.
for he plays an important part in beautiful
celestial phenomenon that occurs In the
early evening OF the 18th. An occulta-
ton OF Mars by the moon will then take
place under conditions favorable for obser.
walton. The occuitation will commence
about balf-past 6 O'Clock, and The planet
will he hidden for more than an hour.
Mars will be about an hour past the meri-
dian, and at an altitude above the horizon
that will ensure good view. while the
moon Will be within day of her first
quarter. III the weather is propitious, there
Will be no drawback TO the perfection Of
the show. At forty-iour minutes after 6
Mars will disappear behind the dark side Of
the moon; this is called the time OF INNER
sion. At thirty-iour seconds after 8 he
will reappear on the western edge of the
moon: this is called the time OF emer-
sion. The duration Of the occultation will
be an hour and sixteen minutes. a
good telescope will increase the interest
and grandeur OF the phenomenon. The
eastern or unenlightened portion OF the
moon will first pass between us aud the
planet. The instant Mars touches the in:
visible outline Uf the lunar disc he will ap-
parently be bIOtied ont of the sky. After an
hour and sixteen minutes have passed. the
lruddy star will suddenly start forth from
his hiding place, trembling for Il second
on the moons western verge, charmingly
illustrating the contrast In cOlOrs between
the red light OF Mars and the silvery hue OF
the moon; then the show will be over, and
satellite and planet will roll on in their re-
spective paths. The position Of Mars
should be thoroughly fixed by those who
would witness the occuliation. He has pass
ed the Pleiades and is now almost directly
north of Aldebaran. His size and bright
ness are slowly diminishing as he travels
from Us and towards the sun. Mars now
sets shortly after l In the morning; at
the close Of the month about a halfbour
after midnight.
JUPITER is evening star for a part of the
MONTH and merits attention for the occur
renee of an epoch in his history. He comes
into conjunction with the sun on the
18th, when, sun and planet set at the
same time, he is at his greatest distance
from the earth, and takes on his smallest
dimensions. After the 18th, he will re-
appear on the western side OF the sun and
commence his role as morning star. Bright
eyes may pick him up now in the west
soon after sunset, and at the end OF the
month brighter eyes will be required to
catch a glimpse of hluI before sunrise. lie
sets now about bali-past 6; at the end OF
the month he rises at twenty-six minutes
sitter 5 Every one who has watched his
movements in the evening sky will mourn
the departure Of one Of its most brilliant
adOrnments.
MERCURY is evening star for almost the
whole month, reaching bis greatest eastern
eIongation or most distant point from the
sun on the 10th. He is in inferior coniunc-
ton with the sun on the 2Sth, when,
passing between us and the sun, be becomes
morning star. Mercury, about the l0ih,
will be in one OF the three most favorable
positions for being seen by the naked eye
that occur during the year. lie must be
! looked for soon after sunset little north OF
the point where the sun disappeared. he
sets now about 7, q little east OF Jupiter.
AT the close Of the month he rises about
half past in the morning.
URANUS is evening star, and is now In his
best posiliOn for observation, coming 30 the
meridian about midnight. and high enough
above the horizon to show himself IN his
best phase. He still keeps in the near
vicinity Of the star Rho Leonis. He rises
now about 5; at the end OF the month
about g.
| SATURN is evening star, presenting notn-
ing noteworthy in bis record for The meDth.
lie looks little brighter now that bis
rival Jupiter is out # mis- way. but he takes
on his paIest aspect as slowly sinking to the
! west In the early evening he travels towards
his conjunction with the sun, in whose
bright rays he will soon he ecipsed. lie
SETS now at half-past 8; at the close OF the
month at about I.
VENUS is morning star, the sole planet 10
be seen in the morning dawn throughout
the month. She is slowly advancing to-
wards the sun and growing less bril-
liant as her distance from the earth In
creases. But even in her least beautiful
phase she will not fail TO attract attention
from all who watch the eastern sky before
the sun puts out the lesser lights. She
rises now few minutes after D; at the
end OF the month few minutes before D,
lesS than an hour before sunrise.
The March moon fulls on the 26ih'
and holds the honor Of determining the
time for Easter, preceding the festival by
oply two days. The old moon paws her re-
spec:s to Venus on the S,h, two days
before her change, the near approach OF the
slender waning crescent aud the beaming
star forming a bright picture on the celestial
canvass Of which the observer never tires.
The new moon OF the 10th will be in con-
Junction with Jupiter on the 11th, and
with both Mercury and Saturn on the
18th, the moon and the two planets being
visible in the early twilight. On the 24th
the moon Will be near Uranus.
A charming phenomenon viii therefore
add special interest TO the planetary annals
OF March. The occuItailon OF Mars by the
moon is something to be remembered for
lifetime, for the moon does not often deign
to put out the light Of planet The last oc'
currence OF a similar phenomenon was the
occulIation OF Saturn by the moon, which
!, took place twice in successive months, the
| first occultation occurring on the 9th OF Au'
gust, and the second on the 3D. OF Septem'
Der, 1876. The dazzling beauty OF the
grand show dwarfs those Of minor impo-'
tance. But there are other interesting
studies besides those OF the Martlan oceui'
tation. Uranus continues 10 his most III
+ yorable position for observation. Jupitel
and Mercury will join the morning stars be
fore the month closes. leaving the sun Will
three planets on bis western side and three
on the eastern. The waning moon and We
nus may be seen on the morning OF the S'h
and The waxing moon. with Mercury AM
{ Saturn, will form trio Of stars on the eve
ming OF the 18th. - Providence journal
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