Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-03-07
The Planets i'm March.
THE BEAUTIES OF THE HEAVENS AS Sem puRrsf



THIS MONTH
Venus is prominently the evening star. for
the most Interesting planetary events OF the
month are closely connected with the move
ments OF this radiant member OF the solar fam
lily. She leads OF In the starry annals OF Mar N
by coming near Saturn on the first day OF It's
advent. The conjunction is not a close one
Venus passing between five and six degrees TO
the north, and henceforh vending her way at
an Increasing distance from her rivals and dis
sowing the planetary trio which has long de-
lighted the eyes or students OF the STARS.
ON The 9th Venus reaches her period OF
greatest bT1lliancy and her radiant beauty AS
evening star eliminates. She has been moving
rapidly westward since her eastern elOngation
on the 2Oth or February, presenting ia the uele-
scope the phase OF the moon passing from the
last quarter toward new moon. She is ia peri
helion on the 9th, million miles nearer the
sun than when 1urthest away In conjunction
with Neptune on the 2Sd. and reaches her ex-
IRENE point OF distance north OF the sun on the
2Sih. Venus sets now about a quarter before
~ o'clock, at the end OF the month about 10
O'Clock.
Jupiter is evening star. but he is only a sub
ordinate actor on the celestial arena yielding
the palm 10 his bewitching rival. who easily
wins the hGnors due TO the leading star His
role is somewhat monotonous for his gold IN
glow Il fading. his size diminishing and he Is
Fastening 10 hide himself from observation IN
the suns ali powerful rays. He Is stlll a beau
tful telescope object, the great red spot re-
talning its undiminlshed proportions on HIS
disk. his belts glowing with prismatlc hEeS.
and bis attendant moons moving in harmonious
0bedieLce 10 his sovereign viii Whether be
has any thing 10 90 with II or not, spots and
f0Sy prCtuberances on the sun are on the in
crease, and the maximum or meteorological dis
tuioance Is probably not yet reached on the
earth. JupiJer'5 approach TO saturn Is a point
Tor observation; at The end OF the month they
are SO near together that there is only about
ten minutes difference In the time OF their seJ-
Hng. Jupiter sets now little after O'Clock:
at the end or the month about twenty minutes
DeiGre O'Clock, more than two hours after
Venus.
saturn is evening star and follows In the foot
steps OF his illustrouS rival, as he has done for
several months; next month there Will come n
change, and TIE brother planets VIII pass each
other ana separate 10 form new combinations.
Saturn sets now at half past O'clock at the
O'Clock.
Mercury is evening star until the nth. when
he comes into inferior con- JUNCTION with the
sun, and Is morning star Tor the rest OF the
month As this is the most favorable time OF
The year for seeing Mercury. and he IL above
the horizon an hour and a quarter after sunset
he may possibly be found about eight degrees
north OF the point where the sun disappeared.
He sets LOW few minutes after O'Clock; at
the enc OF tne month ne rises about quarter
before O'Clock.
Uranus is evening star. for on the lst he was
IL opposition, ana, as the word implies bis
place IN the heavens is decidedly oppost lie he
sun. He is now at his nearest point 70 he
earth. TanuS, the Garth. and the sun being in
"A straight nBe, with the earth In the caHCer.
This is Therefore the time 10 look for him with
tht naked eye. He may be found IN the con-
Stt Iai!on Leo near small star In one OF the
biid legs, and forms a triangle with Regulus
and Denebola, the brightest star or the cons =
latioI, bling south. aLt ab ut mi 1way be1we
thtm. Uranus rises now about QlarTer BE-
fore c'clCck; at the close or the month ABOUT a
quarter before O'Clock.
Mas il morning star, and the only visible
planet enjoying that distinction during the
Whole mOhth. There is nothing OF special IN
tefest Ia his movements, though he is slowly
coming toward US aud fncreasi ng ia size. lie
keeps at about the same dstancs.rro the SUM-
rising low about O'Clock; and at the end OF
the month about quarter after 1 O'clock.
The March moon fulls on the 18th. SIZE Is In
conjunction with Mars on the morning OF the
Goth, when her waning light VIII be in f1ne
contrast with his rudGy hue The new moon
OF the 29th is near Jupiter and Saturn on the
3lst. The March full moon holds the honor of
determining when Ea sier shall be celebrated.
AS the moon fulls rve days before the vernal
equfnoX, she fixes the time for the Easter fesu-
Val upon the Sunday following the next full
moon. AS this occurs on the 14th or April,
Easter Sunday VIII follow on the l7th.-ProUl-
deItGe Journal.