Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-12-10
TRR STARRY HEAVENS.
Planets in DecembeF-An Interest.
ing Celestial Event.

Mars is morning star till the Goth, and
then evening star the rest Of the month. He
wins the place OF honor for the month, for
he reaches during its progress the most In
teresting epoch IN his course, bis opposition
with the sun. This event, so suspicious for
terrestrial observers, comes Of at midnight
on the evening Of the 26th. Mars then
doDs his brightest phase, for he is at his
nearest point to us, the earth being directly
between him and the sun, the three bodies
being in a straight line. When we say that
Mars is nearest to us at opposition, we speak
In general terms, the fact being that at some
oppOsitions he is much nearer than at
Others. The reason for this is that Mars
moves In q very eccentric orbit, and when in
perihelion is twenty-si million miles nearer
the sun than when in aphelion. II, there
fore, an opposition occur when Mars is In
perihelion, he will be Just as much nearer
the earth, ard only about thirty five million
miles distant, the nearest approach the two
planets ever make. II an opposition occur
when Mars is in sphelion, be viii be Just so
much farther from the earth, about sixty
two million miles distant. The present op.
position or that of 1881, fits name on astro-
nomical annals, is of medium character, the
diameter of the planets disc measuring
nearly seventeen seconds of a degree,
the maximum being twentv-four sec
onds. Mars, will, however, be near
tract attention, throughout the whole
month, from every observer Of the starlit
skies. His fiery red disc now comes besm-
ing above the eastern horizon at a quarter
before O'Clock in the evening, and his
rudy glow illumines the heavens almost
the entire night. Every evening he will rise
earlier, but not till after sunset until the
10Th, when, being opposite the sun, be ap-
pears in the east as the sun sinks in the
west. He then passes to the eastern side of
the sun, takes his place on the records as
evening star, and travels from the earth and
towards the sun until his conjunction, on
the 10th of December, 1882.
Jupiter is evening star throughout the
month. Though his lustre is growing dim,
and bis distance from the earth is increas-
ing, he is by far the brightest gem In nights
starry crown. Rising an hour before sun
set, he comes grandly into view as soon as
the sun has sunk behind the western bills,
and reigns supreme till 1t is nearly time for
the breaking of the morning light. Jupiter
now sets about quarter after five o'clock
in the morning at the end of the month he
sets about q quarter after three o'clock.
Saturn is evening star and ranks third on
the list in comparative brightness, being
now obliged to yield the palm to rudy
Mars as well as Jupiter. He passes the
meridian or point overhead at half-past nine
O'Clock, and then commences his westward
course. Neptune follows quickly en- the
track, making his transit about ten o'clock.
Jupiter looks down from the meridian
haf Of "a,
O'Clock. Mars lags far behind, making his
transit about quarter past two o'clock in the
morning. There is nothing new or import
ant in the movements Of Saturn during the
month to the naked eye observer, excepting
70 note that his light is growing dim as he
draws nearer to the sun, although the diff
ference is barely perceptible at present.
Ooe who wishes to be impressed with the
wOndrous beauty Of Saturn must observe
him as revealed in a telescope. A three
inch aperture will show his rings and some
OF his moons. Saturn now sets not far from
a quarter after four O'Clock in the morning:
at the end Of the month he sets about ten
minutes after two o'clock In the morning.
Neptune is evening star, and is only inter-
esfing as telescope object.
Venus is morning star. and makes up for
her low rank on the list by getting up spe-
cisl exhibition of her own with which to re-
II.
Ga the morning of the 10th she passes near
q bright star in the constellation, Scorpio.
L Is Known as Beta Scorpii, or Grafiss,
and is star Of the second magnitude in
Tie head of the Scorpion, about eight
degrees northwest of the we'll known
red star Antsres, the leading brilliant Of the
constellation. The two stars approach
very near to each other, Venus
passing five minutes of degree
L
occurs at MONDAY on the 10th, but the stars
will be close enough together on the morn
ing If the day to make q charming picture.
Venus then rises few minutes before six
o'clock, nearly an hour and a haf before
the sun, and about three degrees a.. half
north of the sunrise point. On the rlOrning
Of the 4th Nenusis in conjunctioH With Mer-
curry, passing degree and half west of the
planet. The planets rise within few min
utes OF each other on that morning about a
quarter before six O'Clock, Venus being
easily seen and serving ss guide to Mer-
curry a short distance to the east. Venus
rises now about half-past five O'Clock; at
the close Of the month she rises about nine
minutes before seven O'Clock.
Mercury Is morning star during the whole
month, ard keeps close TO Venus through
out its course, both planets being bound
for superior conjunction with the sun.
URANUS Is morning sLaT. ne TEACHES his
qusdrature with the sun on the 10th, being
then ninety degrees distant, having ad-
vanced half way on his passage from con-
junction to opposition. At quadrsture, he
rises at midnight, reaches the meridian at
o'clock, and sets about sunrise. he rises
now about a quarter of an hour after mid
night; at the close OF the month, he rises
about a quarter after 10 o'clock In the even
ing.
The December moon fulls on the Ssh.
She is near Saturn on the 81, near Neptune
and Jupiter on the Sd, near Mars on the
7ih, and near Uranus on the 18th. On the
10Th she comes in close conjunction with
Venus, passing twelve minutes south.
Planet and slender crescent will be near
enough on the 10Th to make lovely picture
on the morning sky. On the 18th the new
moon of the 21st psys her respects to Ss-
turn, and on the 30th to Neptune and Jupiter.
Ga the 8 nearly total eclipse OF the
moon occurs. 1t is invisible IN New Eng
land, but may be seen in the Pacific Ocean.
Providence Journal.
A COIOred Warrior.
Yesterday afternoon about three o'clock