The Portland daily press., 1880-06-04
The Planets in June.

Jupiter is morning star and the only planet
of much account during the month. He will
be brilliant object in the lovely June morn
ings, as he leads the starry host and holds his
court without a rival in lustre, size and bril-
liancy. Those who have watched his move
ments will note his increasing magnitude and
brilliancy as with accelerating speed he rolls
majestically onward in his orbit toward his
periEelion and opposition with the sun. trav-
elling towards the earth as we'll as the great
central orb, whose disturbed condition may
be partially owing to the attraction of his huge
mass. If the planet Neptune was discovered
or supposed to exist on account of certain per-
turbations in the movements of Uranus, and
if the erratic movements of Mercury reveal
the presence of planets within his orbit, why
should not the near approach of Jupiter
to the sun stir up commotion in his
fiery elements? The sun is still diversi-
fed with spots, and the planet is near
enough to perihelion to make his influence
felt. Astronomers have been wise prophets
thus far as to the influence of the commence
ment of the sun-spot cycle. Tornadoes and
cyclones of extreme severity have borne wit
ness to abnormal conditions of the atmosphere,
anu ID NaNc VI lHI6uS6 Heib SUCH as mas not
occurred for quarter of a century at this sea-
son of the year. has confirmed the exactness of
previous observations. We must still expect
the usual storms, waves of heat and auroral dis
plays that follow the maximum of sun spots
we have yet to learn whether the coincident
perihelia of the four great planets will incrase
osAa r~eloaa tho elemental warfare This is
oro-o OF the most Interesting pf0Di6ms of Sffs
day, well as one of the most practical and
important. 1t will not meet with a hasty solu-
ton, for the period of observation extends to
the year 1885. Herschel, the great astrono-
mer, said that fsun spots influenced the price
of corn" This assertion is easily understood,
for heat drought and storms exert a mighty
influence on harvests, and if these are lessened
the value of what remains is increased. Stu
dents of astronomy will therefore regard with
especial interest the movements of Jupiter in
the morning sky, while they ponder upon the
mysterious link that unites in one harmonious
whole the members of the solar family. The
planet now rises at two O'clock; at the end of
the month, about midnight.
Saturn is morning star and holds his place
| not far away from his more brilliant rival. He
| too, the second in size of the giant members of
| the brotherhood, is travelling towards his op-
position with the sun, and more slowly to-
| wards perihelion, so that he is increasing in
| size and donning clearer tint than the murky
| one that has marked his presence. He rises
| now at half hour after Jupiter; at the end of
| the month, about half-past twelve.
Venus is morning star, and travels so near
| the sun as to be entirely hidden from mortal
| vision. She rises now q few minutes before
| four; at the close of the month only about
quarter of an hour before the sun. The beau
| tiful planet in this portion of her orbit is
therefore, apparently blotted out of the celes-
| tial map, but she is only eclipsed in the solar
| glow, and will reappear before the summer
| has fulfilled its course.
| Mars is evening star. HE ruddy GLOW is
| paling and his size diminishing as he wends
his way towards the sun and increases his dis
| tance from the earth. He sets now, quarter
before eleven; at the end of the month about
| half-past nine.
| Uranus is evening star, still wandering
among the small stars of Leo, and too far from
the earth to be visible without the aid of the
| telescope. He sets now about eleven; at the
| end of the month not far from ten.