Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-03
Planets in January, 1850.

Mars is evening star, and though decreasing
In size and brilliancy, and increasing his dis
lance from the earth, is still an interesting OBJ
ject for observation. He Is moving rapidly east
ward in what is called direct motion; as his
path lies in the vicinity OF several tirst-magni-
tude stars, they will serve as measures OF mis-
progress. He is now approaching Aldebaran,
one of the brightest of the red stars, and a fine
opportunity will thus be afforded for making
comparative studies of the fixed star and planet
that closely resemble each other. The regular
lty of the starry arch formed by the three plan
cts Mars, Saturn and Jupiter, will soon be
broken. Jupiter will approach Saturn, and
Mars will run away from them both at rapid
pace. Those who have traced the wanderings
of this trio of planets during the summer and
autumn have enjoyed delightful Illustrations of
planetary movements and can easily cOmpre-
bend the laws that regulate their course. 1t
must be remembered that Mars appears to pass
through one OF the consultations of the zodiac
In about two MONTHS while 1t takes Jupiter
year, and Saturn two years and q half, to ac
complish the same amount OF celestial space.
But the observer on the earth, who Is watching
the movements OF the planets, is moving at the
same time, and this accounts for the oScillating
planetary motion, sometimes direct, sometimes
retrograde, and sometimes stationary, whose
brilliant changes have charmed the eyes of star
gazers. One morning last May Mars overlook
Jupiter in the eastern sky, and for a few hours
the fiery hue Of the one and the golden glow of
the other cleaned side by side: ON the last
morning OF June Mars came close to Saturn,
and there was near approach to that marvel
Gus and rare celestial phenomenon, the occulta-
ton of one planet by another month or two
later, Mars still plunging eastward, and Jupiter
moving westward, starry girdle partly SPAN
ned the sky, marked out by the planetary trio
at nearly equal distances. Mars kept on his
eastward course until the equilibrium was de-
StToyed, and, turning his starry feet westward,
the planetary arch once more reappeared in its
former beautiful proportions, attracting, during
the last few weeks, the attaotion and drawing
forth the admiration of every beholder. The
change in the position OF these planets will be
percepttbe during the month, for they are all
little nearer Saturn, and much wider space
win intervene between Mars and Saturn. AS
Mars rises about MONDAY, he will be near the
zenith In the early evening, and well situated
for observation. He sets soon after 8; at the end
of the month about z, in the morning.
Jupiter is evening star, and rapidly approach
ing his conjunction with the sun, as his position
in the western evening sky bears witness. He
sets now about half past 9; at the close of the
month about s. Though travelling far away
from the earth ana h s6ord OF his brightest
jesucally below the western horizon, he asserts
his claim to the proud title of king OF the stars
Saturn is evening star, and has little that is
noteworthy for observation during the present
month He is travelling from us, his murky
light Is growing more dim, and he has all that
he can do to take care OF himself, with JupiterS
mighty sphere plung1ng towards him on one
side, and fiery Mars outractng him on the other
In spias OF the opposing forces, he moves Sc
renely on his way-setting now about midnight;
at the end of the month, about 10.
Venus Is morning star, and, though less bril-
liant than In December, will be beautiful to see
throughout the mornings Of January, while re-
sun, as any observer may see BY watching the
time OF her rising. She rises now about 4; at tie
close of the month about 5, only a little more
than two hours before the sum-
Mercury is morning star throughout the
month, rising about 6; at the close Of the
month about7. He is not very favorably situ-
hour and a-half before sunrise, he may possibly
be picked up a few degrees north of the point
where the sun will appear.
Uranus Is morning star, rising about half-paSt
O. and slowly making his way among the small
stars OF Leo. while growing slightly brighter
and coming into batter position for obServa-
The January moon fulls on the 9th. The old
moon is near Uranus on the I'd. On the MORN
ing of the Sth, the eastern sky will present a
picture worth getting up to see, for Venus and
the waning moon will then be In conjunction, the
moon being to the right OF the planet; on the
9th, there will be new exhibition Of the same
picture, with the parts reversed the moon being
to the left OF the planet; on the 10th, the moon
and mercury Will be near each other, but they
viii be hidden by the suns rays from the bright
est-eyed observers. The new moon OF the 18th
will be very near Jupiter during the evening
hours of the 18th; near Saturn till they set on
the evening OF the nth; near Mars, on the right
of the planet, on the evening OF the Goth, and
near Mars, on the left OF the planet, On the
evening OF the 2lst.
The planetary events OF the month are not so
startling and brilliant as those that sometimes
Will not wane TO the Jealous student OF the
stars. The winter mornings will be gfaced by
the presence OF Venus, the faireSt and brightest
of all the host that keep watch and guard over
the sleeping earth, and especially on the
mornings OF the Sth and eth will She be fair
to see, with the slender crescent OF the Old
moon now on her right and now on her left.
Jupiter and the four-dayS-old moon Will be
close together on the evening Of the 18th.
and, if the clouds are kind the celestial
Irritation" will rank as one of the most de-
lightful starry pictures OF the month. Jupiter,
Saturn and Mars throw their planetary
arch over the western sky for the last time for
many months to come. Changes are as con-
stantly occurring among the beaming stars that
stud the sky as among the more proSaic ele-
mentS that make up life on the earth. The map
OF the heavens as spread nightly above our
heads IS never the same to mortal vision, for the
time that has passed since man became living
soul would not measure the fraction of n second
in the great cycle that marks a revolution OF the
myriad OrbS that crowd the immesl5ity of space.
The month Is marked by the graadest or all
phenomena, total eclipse OF the sun on the
18th, invisible to US, but visible in The western
part OF the United States and the Northern Pa
ciflc ocean, Providence journal.
Why IL Didn't 90.
Brooklyn parent gave his daughter, on her
18th birthday, a handsome watch, which he