The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-04-03
Providence Journal.l
Planets in April.

providence Journall
Planets in April.
Saturn is evening star, though only few
days, and wins the first place during the
month on account of an Important epoch in
his course. This event is his conjunction with
the sun on the 7th, after which he joins the
morning stars. AT this time, Saturn, the sun
and the earth are in a straight line with the
sun in the centre. He is then at his greatest
distance from the earth, more than ten hun
dred million miles, sets with the sun as the
word Conjunction" indicates, and is invisible,
being eclipsed by the solar radiance. Since
1876 Saturn has been below his average bright
ness, owing to the rings being seen nearly
edgewise. But from the present time till
1885 he will constantly grow brighter, for, dur
ing this interval, he passes his perihelion,
his point Of greatest northern declination.
and his rings open out to their widest ex-
tent. Those who have access to telescopes
will enjoy matchless views of the most mag
nifcent object in the solar system. OBJ
servers with the naked eye, will find great in
terest in watching his movements from the
time when he emerges from his proximity to
the sun and becomes visible as morning star,
about month hence until he reaches his op-
position in October, when ne will be in his
brightest phase, his seeming course around the
sun being about half completed. Those who
study the stars will have plenty of occupation
in the coming years. The index-hand on the
celestial dial-plate points to events of momen-
tous import. The four great planets reach
their nearest point to the sun more nearly to-
gether than they have done for almost two
thousand years. 1t is not unreasonable to sup
pose that with their strong pull, and pull all
together, they will create some unusual dis
turbance in the chaotic elements that make
up the suns fiery mass. The forces of the
new spot-cycle are now in active operation,
and those who have closely watched the influ-
ence of the solar disturbance on climatic con-
ditions predict hot Summer from the heat
waves that follow the commencement of the
tremendous solar outbreaks. The hidden
chambers of the great pyramid have given
forth in oracular fashion momentous prophe-
cies for 1881, to the few disciples who have
faith in their teachings, and astrologers cast
strange horoscopes from the unusual planetary
combinations. Meantime the celestial panora-
ma unfolds its interesting scenes slowly and
serenely before admiring terrestrial eyes. The
disturbances that startle the finite powers of
tu6 nuIQdu race are Dut DIS Gu6 uuSI Ol LILO Ddl-
ance in the order and harmony that rule in the
realms of infinite space, and millions of years
must elapse before the suns fires cease to burn.
Saturn sets now about 7; at the close of the
month he rises about half-past 4.
Jupiter is morning STAR and will soon be an
interesting object for observation as he in
creases his distance from the sun. He reaches
his perihelion in September at nearly the time
of opposition, so that he is coming nearer to us
than he has been for more than eleven years,
and will therefore be seen in his brightest
phase, in the Summer and Autumn months.
On the 8th Jupiter is near Mercury, and again
on the 18th. On the 18th, Jupiter, Venus and
Mercury are near together and possibly visible
to bright-eyed observers. Jupiter rises now
about half-past 8; at the end of the month he
will rise about a quarter before 4, nearly an
hour and quarter before the sun.
Venus is morning star, with nothing special
ly noteworthy in her history during the month.
She is approaching the sun and receding from
the earth and is shorn of her brightest beams.
On the morning of the Both, beautiful plane
tary trio may be looked for. consisting of We
nus, Saturn and Mercury. They will be visi-
BILE now about 5; at the end of the month about
quarter after 4.
Mercury is morning star, and reaches his
greatest western elongation on the 26th. He
may be seen for few days before and after
that event. as it is one of the three favorable
times during the year when he is visible to the
naked eye as morning star. Mercury is an ac-
the month. He divides his attention between
the moon and Jupiter on the Sth, starts on his
descending node on the 9th, is stationary
among the stars on the 10th, approaches Venus
on the 25th, and Jupiter second time on the
1Sth is at his greatest distance from the sun on
the 10Th, and at his greatest western elonga-
ton on the 18th. This busy and swift-footed
planet rises now about half past 5; at the end
of the month about 4.
Mars is evening star, and enjoys the distinc-
of 81,
He is leaving Aldebaran behind and plunging
in his healong career among the smaller
stars of Taurus and Gemini On the 26th, he
will be directly north of the brilliant
star Sirius. Mars sets now about halls
hour after midnight; at the end of the
month he sets a quarter OF an hour before mid
night
Uranus is evening star, but travelling so far
away as to become difficult object for naked
eye observation. He keeps in the near vicinity
of Rho Leonis, and telescope will bring
them both into the same field of vision, the
star still shining like brilliant point, and the
planet being transformed into young moon,
with a disc of delicate sea-green tint. A
fine opportunity is thus afforded for study of
the difference between an immeasurably dis
tant star, and comparatively near planet,
the one remaining point under any magnify
ing power reached, the other as surely develop
ing Disc Uranus rises now about 81 at the
close of the month about l.
LILO april LuOOu lullS Ol tllo Attu. 1Ho
waning moon is near Venus on the 7th, and
near Mercury and Jupiter on the Sth. The
new moon of the 9th is near Saturn on the day
of her change, near Mars on the 18th, and
near Uranus on the 10TH
The interest of the month concentrates on
the morning stars, for after the 7th, Venus
Jupiter, Mercury and Saturn are all numbered
on this list. Venus especially will be the her.
aid of the sun throughout the month, for
though in her distant phase, she still reigns as
the brightest star in the heavens She will
form lovely picture as companion for the
slender waning moon on the morning of the
7th, will divide her queenly favor between
Mercury and Jupiter on the 18th, and will ap-
pear above the horizon line nearly at the same
time with Saturn and Mercury on the 30th.
Jupiter and Saturn will become studies of
peculiar interest from the present time till
,1ha mnitar inst aftar ar;hnEo,, Iii Sor
his brightest colors, and Saturn will shine
with clearer lustre than he has done for many