The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-01-04

Saturn and Jupiter Is q noteworthy point
during the month. This planet now sets al
O'Clock; at the end OF the month about IL
O'Clock.
MARS Is morning star, travelling slowly
from the sun and approaching the time when
his brighter phase will attract attention from
observers. lie anticipates the sun about an
hour and half, and may he easily rocog-
nized In the morning sky by his ruddy tight
He rises now about O'Clock at the end OF
the month about quarter before G.
URANUS Is morning star aud is coming to-
wards uS, but there Is nothing in his move
mcnts of special interest 10 Observers. lie
rises now about 10 O'Clock In the evening
ut the end OF the month about s O'Clock.
| MERCURY is morning star until The 20. D.
when he comes In superior conjunction WIN
/ the sun, passes to his eastern side, ana De'
I comes evening star. He rises now aoou'
half-past 6 o'clock in the morning at thS
| END uf The month he sets ABOUT hali-pist
o'clock IN the evening.
The January moon fuls on the 18th,
having commenced her course on the last
dav of the old year. She will form sue
| ce.sion Of beautiful tableauX, in connection
with The grand trio ot planets that will
reign In The western evening sky. On the
3d she will appear aS shining crescent,
with Venus for her attendant; on the 9th,
with increasing brightness, she will ply
her court 10 Jupiter; on the 9Th,
juSt after Sne has reached her first
quarter, she will he seen in cOri Junction with
Saturn. she will pass near Neptune on The
9th. and near Uranus on the l9'h, while IN
her waning phase she will folm brilliant
pic'ure with Mars for a companion on The
- fl,, ftl Il
varied rs are The many phases presented by
the moon. those who really desire 10 study
the stars are willing TO see her sink below
the horizon, for 1t il only on moOnless
nights that the glory oi The stars i revealed,
and the telescope grasps the secrets that lie
hidden in The depths OF space.
Two prominent themes for study and OBJ
ScTvation demand attention during Decem-
Der. The condition Of Jupiter. the number
and size Of the suns spots, and the internal
and external disturbances taking place on
the earth are all to be closely observed in
connection with the theory OF The physical
action OF the planets on tie sun and en-
each other. The opportunity VIII soon
close, and twelve years must pass before
The observation can be renewed under
conditions equally favorable. Tie Otber
theme for study j. more practical. Irs les
sons may be learned on the PAGES Of the
book Of nature, lying open every clear eve
ning before the eye. Here SHINE the three
brilll1nt plInelS. presenting gorgeous ar
ray'0f phenomena and briIliJnt change Of
positions. such as ftcr the paS,ag Of afew
year>-will not be repeated in tre present
century. CoDiuuctions like those that are
coming are the delight Of aSirOIogeis. and
horoscopes cast in'the coming months will
symbolic lives full Of romantic adventure.
Intelligent observers will follow closely IN
the paths OF trained astronomers, for this is
cmmentlv the agc of observation, and the
result Of patient labor in this department is
probably nearly all that the astronomers OF
the preScntwiil bCqueath to The hcastronomerS
Of the future.