The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-06-08


pear above the horizon, about seventeen
degrees south OF the sunrise point. He will
be easily recognized by his red light and
the absence OF any other bright stars In his
vicinity. He rises now at O'Clock; at the
end Of The month Just before O'Clock.
NEPTUNE Is morning star, and though in
visible TO the naked eye, Is worthy OF notice
from being so near Jupiter, Saturn. aud
Venus on the same day, with only an In
tervai OF six hours between the two con.
functions, while Jupiter and Venus meet
aud pass during the interval. Neptune
rises on the first OF the month at a quarter
after 3 O'Clock; at the end OF the month
about twenty minutes after O'Clock.
The June moon fuls on the 18th, and
gives us the rare treat of n total lunar
eclipse. No celestial phenomena is easier to
understand. The earth passes between the
sun and moon and obscures his light. II
can only occur at the time of full moon,
aud there would be n total eclipse OF the
moon every month il the suns path aud the
moons path were on the same plane or
level. But the moons orbit is inclined TO
the ecliptic about five degrees, therefore the
moon must be at her node or crossing point
at the time OF full moon in order 10 be total
ly eclipsed. She is, however, much oftener
far enough from her node TO be above or
below the earth's shadow when there is no
eclipse, or she may be near enough to ber
node 10 pass through a portion OF the
earth's shadow when she is partially eclpsed.
But on the morning Of the 18th the
conditions are favorable for grand exhibit
tion Of the dlIkenipg power OF the earth's
shadow. The moon is full, she is at her
node. she is i'm perigee, or at her nearest
point TO the earth, and she will pass Gen.
frally through the earth's shadow. The
eclipse begins, that Is the dark shadow
enters upon the moon, at Oh. 26m., or 26m.
after midnight. The total phase commences
at lh. a9m., and ends at Oh. sim. The
eclipse ends at 3h. 52m. On the 2lst, the
moon is in conjunction with Mars and
Saturn. On the morning OF the 22d, the
heavens will present superb picture, made
up Of the waning moon, the bright planets,
Venus and Jupiter. Between O'Clock on
the morning OF the 2lst and O'Clock in the
afternoon OF the odd. the moon is in con-
junction with five planets, Mars, saturn,
Neptune. Jupiter, and Venus.
II will readily be seen that June is full Of
promise for star-gaZers. The planets that
clustered around the setting sun, and more
recently hOyered closely around the rising
sun, are now recedng from him and form
ing combinations Of exquisite beauty. The
lovely summer morning sky beams with the
rapid movements OF these shining wander
ers. Saturn and Jupiter are bidding fare
well TO each other for twenty years, as the
distance on the celestial track widens be-
tween them. Venus passes them both in
her rapid course. their varied movements
causing two brilliant coniunctious. The
three planets are drawing near to Mars, and
before the month closes the planetary quar-
telte will rise in the small hours that pre-.
cede the dawn, and the observer who
would see the commencement Of the show
must be at his post by l O'Clock. His watch
will be we'll repaid. as these celestial wan
deres peer in turn above the horizon, COM
mencing with ruddy Mars and ending with
Venus, the fairest OF the train. Mercury
will perform acceptably his part in the pro-
gramme by his bright shining amid the
glOries Of the western twilight. The moon
will not be behind the planets. rs in waning
light she PAYS her court 10 the planets IN
her course. and TO her will be due the
honor OF being he chief actor in the culmi'
mating event Of the month, when her full
round orb is hidden by the shadow Of the
earth. She is, however, not totally eclipsed
for her disc, iliumined by earth-light
shines With 4 lurid. copper-cOlored light,
which increased by the weird shadows, the
reappearance Of stars as the moonlight fades
and the solemn silence Of midnight, lends q
supernatural element to the sublime and
awe-inspiring scene.