Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1880-09-16
The Planets in September.

Jupiter is morning star according to the
astronomical calendar though observers who
note his early advent above the horizon will
naturally class him as an evening star. But
scientists have their laws. and one Of these
is that the outer planets are ranked as morn
ing stars from conjunction to opposition. and
evening stars from opposition to conjunction
| September records an event of noteworthy
interest on planetary annals, for on the 25th
occurs that long anticipated aud much-dread-
ed epoch, the perihelion Of Jupiter Our
| giant brother then reaches his nearest point
to the sun, and is also within few DAYS of
his opposition or nearest point to the earth.
| But while the earth at perihelion is only three
million miles nearer the sun than at aphelion,
Jupiter comes at that epoch forty-s million
miles nearer the great central orb. He is
then, however, more than four hundred and
fifty million miles from the sun, fortunately
far enough away to eounteract and mollfy
the increased force of attraction between two
such mighty masses.
Observers have not failed TO note during
the last month, renewed proofs of elemental
disturbance. though there has been little in
crease in the severity or continuance Of at
mospherical phenomena. Earthquakes. wa
ter spouts. tornadoes, hurricanes, cyclones,
falling meteorS of unusual size, waves Of
heat, exhausting to human Endurance. waves
of cold, close in the wake Of the heat, frost
and ice in the low lands. and snow storms
and winter winds in eley ated localities, have
all been recorded on the weather reports,
and may well be ascrlbed TO the baneful
influence Of Jupiter, as accounted for on any
other vet improved theory. Nature has,
however, beautifully alternated her sunshine
and storm, giving a preponderance TO the
days when peaceful influences reigned, and
the perfection Of summer weather crowned
the season with its choicest gifts 1t is safe
then. to feel that the Rubicon Of Jupiter's
perhelion is passed, for the twenty FIVE DAYS
yet To be completed count as nothing in rev
olution requiring nearly eleven thousand of
our days, or twelve of our years. Jupiter's
movements will therefore be full Of interest
during the present month for all lovers Of
the stars.
Nearly twelve wears must pass before the
conditions will again be as favorable for OBJ
seryation. 1t is a rare pleasure to watch
this superb planet at his present near ap-
proach, as he comes beaming above the east
ern horizon about o'clock, magnificent in
.lze and radiant in golden light the fairest
and brightest of all the stars among the
myriads that glitter in the armament, bright
enough TO cast a shadow and afford 4 glimpse
of his moons through good opera glass.
1t is a still more satisfactory pleasure TO
watch the phases of the grandest member
of the system through telescope No earth
~ tints can compare in clearness and delieacy
with the purple. pink and blue of his many
belts, and with the ruddy glow of his great
spot. while nothing can be more interesting
than To study the phases of the four dia-
mond points Of light that bear witnes, TO
the presence of his moons, and picture Il
solar system IN miniature. Astronomers
have made careful observations Of the great
spot To determine more accurately the time
OF the planets revolution on It's axis. Il al
most takes ones breath away to think that
Jupiter turns on his axis in about ten hours
so that an observer on his equator would be
carried around at the rate of nearly five
hundred miles a minute, instead Of the sey-
enteen miles that mark the comparatively
moderate progress made BY an inhabitant at
the earth's equator Jupiter rises now about
: at the end of the month about 8.
Saturn Is a morning star, and follows
closely in the steps of his brilliant rival dur
ing the month. He will not reach his
perihelion till 1881, but he is approaching
his opposition, and this most favorable
position for obsery alton is increased BY the
wide-open presentation Of the rings, giyngs
the planet greater apparent dimensions and
much clearer tint
Venus IS evening star, and will soon reign
IN the west a formidable rival to her brother
planets IN the east. She Is slovy recedinp
from the sun in her progress toward her
eastern elongatlon, and will soon be plainly
visible in the twilight.
The September moon fulls on the 18th.
II Is the loveliest moon of all the wear. the
glorious harvest moon. The old moon il
near Mercury on the morning of the Sd. and
near Uranus on the 4th. The new moon of
the 18th is in conjunction with both Venus
and Mars on the 9TH. The full moon of the
18TH, IS in conjunction with Jupiter on the
10th. and with Saturn on the DIST.
The sky unrolls charming page on
September nights for those who love to gaze
upon the twinklng records, and interpre,
the mysterious symbols engraved in golden
text The greatest epoch of the much talked
OF perhe!ion of Jupiter, occurring about
seven CLOCK on the evening of the 25th.
The specially favorable conditions for the
study of Jupiter and Saturn must be borne
IN mind as well as the enjoyment of watching
these planets as they rise above the eastern
hills, transcendant in beauty, pursue their
stately course to the zenith, and slowly de-
scend to the west, being visible throughout
the night. The harvest moon is another
prominent object of beauty rising nigh, after
night almost as soon as the sun has set and
seeming to prolong the shortening autumnal
day with her food Of serene and silver
light. '" '"'e''