The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-02-05

,os;tion for observation CURING tDe HoHtu'
IN, visible a. faint, misty star 10 OBJ
servcrs who know where to lock for HIN.
H. comes into opposition with the sun on
'ic 95.b. fre earth then being between The
sn, aud Uranus, and the planet at IFS near
~ min. 10 the earth. His nearest approach,
tovayer. leaves an interval of space between
~ ~ seventeen hundred and forly.Gvc mil
Norsof miles. and vet such Is the marvellous
construction Of the human eye that II Uls'
,;rci'y di,cerns this remote member OF lhc
svsfeu. recurring but q slight effort 10 span
,bs iuc0ncc:yallc space. Careful Observers
can find ;he plgnet with little paiustaklng
on clear m0onlcss evenings. Uranus rises
now about O'Clock, and at the end OF the
moaih about ..
4 favorable time for observation will
therefore be found a, present about 9
O'Clock. 4 brilliant first-magntude star
will then be visible in the eastern sky one
nird Of the distance from the horizon To
the zenith. This is Rcculus. the largest
and lowest Oi the five or SIX stars that form
the sickle i'm the constellation Leo. A few
deerees cast oi ReguiuS Is small star
called Rho LeOniS. and the planet must bc
looled for In lis vicinity. II is of the
siy'h macDiiude, the smallest visible 10
the eve. and OF pale blush tint. seen
through good telescope, IL shows
de. proving thai IT is planet, as
shines a delicate std--Teen tint, and is a
beautiful object. Uranus is technically
numbered with the morning stars Until his
opposition with the sun on the 25,h. lie
then becomes evening star, rising when the
sun SETS his place Icing opposite the sun.
as The word Indicate. II is easy 10 keep
-. Qpt IL co
slow. His OprOsl,iOnS occur at intervals Of
about three hundred and SiXty-nine days.
Thus the time OF opposition during the re-
mainder OF the present century may be
found bv adding iour days and Il bali for
every subsequent year to the date OF the
present opposition.
MARS i evening star, and n conspicuous
ly besuItul object for observation aS he
pnrsu(s hi> rapid coarse eastward among
the stars Of Taurus. His great declinaliOn
gives him high altitude when be passes
the meridian. Rising now soon after II, he
reaches this point little before :, and the
starry page that then opens before the eye
OF be observer looking eastward is fair to
see. Mars leads the brilliant host. The
Plei9deS and rUddy Aldebaran stand near
c>t to the throne. superb Orion giilters
in The southeast, and Sirius. low down,
shines in his full Splendor. The twin.
stars. Castor and PolluX, illuminate the
eastern sky, and ProcyOn tWinkles below
them. Rceulus is ready to start above the
horizon line. The celestial arch shows no
more charming clustering OF lis brightest
gems. The luStre Of Mars is growing dim,
and Bis dimensions are decreasing as he
travels from IL and approaches the sun. He
now sets about ,, at the close OF the month
about in the morning.
SATURN i evening star. and keeps on his
Qai,t course with little variation, while, like
hi, brother planets, Mars aud Jupiter, he
travels from the earth and approaches the
sun. He is easily recognized, and his posi-
ton in the heavens Is strikingly cOntrasiod
with Mars from the absence OF all bright
STAR, in his vicinity. He sets now about 10,
at ,hc end Of the month at hali-past s.
JUPITER is evening star. but after the mid
de Of the month his brilliant face will be
difficult to see, for he will then be so near
The sun a. to be nearly eclipSed in bis
brighter lehi. Those who have watched
his course through the evenings Of the all-
tumn aud winter will miss the bcamng
picserce OF the brightest star save one that
giaces the firmament. Special interest has
been felt in the planet on account Of the
spot which has been visible on his surface
ever since lost June and j, still visible. The
Dimensions OF the spot are something ap-
p1liiDg 10 those measuring upon the
small scale on which the earth is fash
i0ned Astronomers give it a diameter
OF over twenty thousand mieS-tWO and n
hall times the diameter OF the globe. II the
spot is a rift in the oud-almosphere Of Ju-
pi,cr, it gives a frightiul idea OF the dis
10 al gfA
mems that form the mass Of the huge
planet. Jupiter sets now about s; at the
end II the month about haii-past 6.
MERCURY is morning star until the 18th,
when be comes IN superior conjunction
with the sun, after which lie is numbered
With the evening stars. lie rises now ut
~ the morning; al the end OF the month
hc>c's little before :. The only event OF
Interest on his record is his conjunction
~nb Jupiter on tie evening Of The 2Sth,
When the two planets may possibly be seer
ID The early twilight.
KAus is morning star, and lovely har-
b'ager OF the sans bright presence through
ott The month. She j. fulfilling her ap-
poHied role af she re,races her steps to-
Nsfts the sun, apparently al slow pace.
S3e rises now few minutes before 8; al
IAe eLd O1 The month, q few minutes after
a. Bet tie sun rises 20 much earlier that
she pfecedfs him by less chan an houi and
q half
The February moon fKls on the 2Tth.
Iae most beautiful picture painted by the
Aia moon OIL the celestial canvas will occur
o. She morning OF tbt 7th, when the waning
ehcscent viii hang two degrees south
OF Venus, fhe peerless morncg star. The
he" moon of toe 10th Ssll be 10 conjuncliOa
"iu NerclXy on the dag vi It's occurrence,
wlher. Of cOdrsc, moon and planet will be
lhNi',lse. Ol the eyeniag Of tue 10Th the
tWo-dsseIOld moon will De near 30 Jupiter
ln The early twilight. sight worth watch
lbs for. On the l4th the moon viii be near
saturn; Oh the }Sth, near Mars. The fall
moon OF the 2jth will be near Uranus at tle
ulle Of opposition.
thus the planetary annals Of FebDUary |
s'''S on their recoIs. no phenomena Of On |
s7dsl interest. But astronomical research !
UeIer inonOton0us 70 one who loves 20 /
"aeh the movements that are constantly |
,'k0g place on the celestial sphere. Uranus
70 te carefully looked fer, as his great orb,
.lsbly times exceeding our own IN volume,
,asiob!es on the verge OF visibility, dwaIfed
py DIS Immense distance. Mars Is TO be
'wAlehed as ju rapid course he circles near
'be Pleiadeg, Jupiter bids farewell for
'esson TO the b b.acturnai sky where he has
Ieigned for months the brightest OF the star
y tbrong. BrIgbt-eyed observers may catch
NaaN -. A -