Daily Republican., 1881-02-21

What a wiImiUgteBianW Writes OF
lhe Heayen's PreueEt Aspect.
For tho Kepublioan,

an a HehVens FEehoAA ASwoc"
For tho Republican.
To those who are admirers of the
planatsry panorama, the heavens are
at present full of interest.
The brilliant quartette now visible
In the western sky, Venus, Jupiter
and Saturn being in close proximity to
one another, and the shy planet Mar-
curry, beaming with golden lustre low
down in the fading twilight, form q
picture seldom surpassed for beanty.
Venus and Jupiter are rapidly ap-
preaching one another, and are in con-
junction on the 2lst of February, the
former being three degrees and twenty
minutes north Of the latter.
Jupiter is also travelling toward
saturn, and will overtake him on the
2lst Of April, the day they are in CON
junction with the sun, SO that they
will be obscured from mundane Observ-
-rs by their close proximity to the orb
OF day.
Mercury is evening star, and will
continue to recede from the SUI, until
February 22ud, at which time he at
tains his creates: elonEstion east, and
is plainly visible in the evening twi-
light, shining with a brilliancy almost
rivalllng Jupiter. Unlike the other
planets, with the exception OF Venus }
ne twiukles very perceptibly, so that
to those unacquaipted With his appear
ance, he is liable TO be mistaken for q
fixed star. Venus is evening star, and
rsigns supreme among the starry hosts.
She iS still increasing In brilIianoy,
aud in the absence OF the moon casts a
perceptible shadow. Sac is also plain.
ly visible at midday, beaming brightly
some distance Bsst Of the Sun.
jupiter, though much inferior TO his
sister planet in brightness, i'd still an
object Of great interest. With small
telescope or an ordinary spy-gla7s his
four moons are plainly discernIble and
with q still higher power his eq Ratorial
belts, and great spot are visible. He
can bs seen in daytime with the aid Of
field or spy glass, and ia easily found,
owing to his nearness to Venus.
Saturn is not Of mnch interest, ex'
cept to those who are so fortunate as to
possess a telescope; though with an
exceptional good py'glass his rings
may be discerned.
A most beautiful and brilliant pic
ture will he visible OF the evenings OF
March 2ud aud Srd, when the crescent
moon is in conjunction with Venus and
Jupiter, passing little more than one
degree north of Venus, and forming a
scene worthy to be admired.
Probably the most interesting ocCur
ence this year, is the total eclipse OF
the moon, which occurs on tAe nights
Of the llth and 18th Of June.
If tn. night proves clear, II is well
worth the loss Of a fsw hours sleep to
see the beautiful luminsry OF night
slowly dismantled OF it's brightness.
In q total eclipse the, moon is never
entirely obsoursd; generally appearing
of dull red hue, owing to some light
from the sun being sent by r4frActiol
through the atmosphere OF the earth,
and cast upon the moou, similar to that
of the clouds at sunset.
By far the most important occurrence
to astronomers, is the transit OF Venus
across the SUMS disc, which takes
place December s, 1881, and is visible
to the Uaited States in general. Pre-
vious to the transit of 1874, there has
been none this century; aud after that
of next year, there Will be no more fer
over one hundred years; so that the
coming transit will bs the last one to
be observed by the present generation.
Transits OF Venus are of great impor-
tance, as by them the true distance OF
the sun can be computed. The tran
sits Of Mercury are of much more fire.
quent occurrence, though not so iInpor'
tant a. those of Venus. W, T.