The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1880-07-14
FOUR PLANETS IN PERIHELION.
Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn and Neptune APP
preaching the Sun Together for the First
Time in L ~ Years.

Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn and Neptune APP
preaching the sun Together for the First
Time i'm ~ Years.
London Telegraph
Astronomers tell us that we are entering
upon a period when an occurrence will take
place in the heavens which has not been
known for nearly 200 years. The four larg-
est of the planetary bodies, Jupiter. Uranus.
Saturn and Neptune, are approaching their
perihellon point in space, are sweeping In
their gigantic orbits nearer and nearer to the
sun, and their simultaneous approximation
to the central mass of the solar system mas
inspired some minds with fears as to the
possible results to that particular planet on
which we dwell. There is no need
OF any anxiety, however, as SUCH an event
has happened several times before, and
probably will happen often again, without
causing the smallest inconvenience TO any
human being. The perihellon of planet
being that point in Its orbit where 1t comes
nearest to the sun, and all the planets being
at different distances from that luminary, 1t
follows that some OF them approach the sun
or are in Perihelion-more frequently than
others. Neptune, the most distant of all,
takes 164 years to complete its movement
round the sun, while Jupiter, in size the
king of the planets, he whom the Greeks
called Phaethon, and the Egyptians 1.-The
Brilliant" sweeps round in less than a
IWcAltH part VI iAnt lAO Aucb OOOaSAOh
when q stellar phenomenon similar to that
which is about TO happen occurred was at the
beginning of last century, when all four OF
these wandering worlds neared the sun
almost simultaneously. That was in l1Oo.
and the following years, and, IL
there were any ground for sup
posing that earthquakes and plsgues at
tended these unusual events, history ought
to inform us of dire calamiGes at that time
affecting the globe. Yet there is no sstisfac
tory proof of the earth having been dis
turbed about that PERIOD on the contrary,
she seems to have adopted an attitude of
perfect Indifference, in spite of the proxim-
ity of the major planets The'great plague
happened in the year 1865 and can hardly.
therefore, be put down to the malignant IN
fuence of planetary perihelia, more es-
pecially as il can be accounted for by other
causes, such as unsanitary conditions of life,
and an absence of q sufficient amount Of
fruit and fresh vegetables in the popular
diet of the age. II there are any who would
attribute the war of the succession
to these resplendent heavenly bodies,
they should, in common fairness to Jupiter
and Neptune, remember that the peace OF
Utrecht, which ended the contest, was hap
PLY cemented in the year 1113, at q time
when, according to estrology, not only 1.-The
dogs of war" but the more terrible wolves
of famine, to say nothing Of earthquakes and
tempests, ought to have been reveliDg in
slaughter all over the world. Why should
we asoribe bsleful powers to any conf juno
ton of the countless host of Heaven? There
is really no shadow of astronomical ground
for believing that the other planets exercise
any sensible sway over the meteorological
conditions under which we live, The per-
turbirg pow ar OF these bodies is limited TO
slightly altering the elliptical orbit OF the
earth, and beyond that they have assumed
toward our smaller planet an attitude OF
peri sct oomplaceGcg.