Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-05-08
About Jupiter.
lProyiderca JournaI.l


Jupiter is morning STAR and by far the most
important object for observation among the
planets during the month. 1t cannot be too
strongly impressed upon the minds OF students
OF the stars, that the four great planets are an
approaching their perihelia and bringing about
condition OF planetary affairs that has not oc-
CURED IoT TWO thousand years Jupiter reaches
tne goal flrst, arriving at perihelon on the 18th
OF september. Such Is The eccentricity of his
orbit that he Will then be forty-six millions OF
miles. or about half OF the whole distance OF
the earin rom the sun, nearer to the great
central nre than when fartheSt away. lie is
also at that time almost at his nearest pOint tn
me earth, coming into opposition with the sun
eleven days after per1hel10n. The earth is then
Qlrectly between nm and the sun; but the earth
Is fartheSt from the sun 10 july and will he
az considerably more than her mean distance
IN SeptemDer, when Jupiter is forty six million
miles nearer. 1t may easily be seen that when
at opposition the earth Is at or near her
greatest distance, and Jupiter at his least
distance from the sun, the two planets
VIII be almost as near together as
they can De. such will be the case next Octo,
Der, and The giant OF the system will soon give
evidence OF The fact in his increasing size and
briulancy, being brighter than he has paen for
nearly twelve years The difference will not he
so marked as In the case OF Mars under the
same conditions, for nearly four hundred mil
hon miles or space intervene between the earth
and the hugh planet even when nearest Jupi-
Ter, thefeiofe, VIII De source OF intense inter
est during the coming months as he approaches
ana recedes from his perthelion and opposition
The great problem OF the effect or his approach
upon the mysterious spot period OF the sun will
i De INST In Importance. Many astronomers
scout the Idea OF such an Influence. Many more
nnd nothing improbable in the theory that the
approach OF huge mass 10 the sun should pro-
Quce disturbance in his blazing elements. EVIL
uently In cCmmotton from some cause while
tne near correspondence In time between the
maximum OF the spot-periOd and the revolution
OI Jupiter favors the argument. No one doubts
Inal the disturbed condition OF the sun Will be
fellected on the earth IN waves or intense heat
severe storms and auroral displays or that the
same influence viii be felt In the same way 10
the systems remOtest bounds.
Gigantic Jupiter, as his mighty mass plunges
towards The sun, gives evidence of mighty
FORCES at work among the chaotic elements OF
MS cloud Surface. A spot has been seen on his
use Ior nearly year elliptical In form red In
co1or ana with diameter OF twenty thousand
mites. NO observer understands the cause OF
TINS huge mn. IL may be an opening In the
UIouu-atmosphere disclosing the more solid
matter beneath, and IL may be something be-
!onu human ken. About the 22d. IL Is hoped
s snat ihe planet will be again In favorable posi-
uon LOT the observation OF the red spot. aud
pau rs Investigators Will not be wanting 10
,a une pest OF the opportunity. This beauti-
sera p,e1 may now be seen in the eastern sky.
SSith1 ~ UNCONSCIOUS of the excitement induced
~ ms movements, rising quarter before 4: AT
,ne Gnu OF tne month he rises at q nearly TWO
AouIs ana half before the sun