Saturday press. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1880-1885, 1881-03-12

have been discovered, is yet so un-
certain that its orbit has not been de-
tcrmincd. and If it exists, its periods of
perihclion cannot he determined. But tho
most remarkable features of the plane
t,ry phenomena arc the frequency aud null
tipiicity of coniunctious; that is, when they
are in the same part OF the honvons-in the
same longitude ar right ascension. And
what causes some timid people considerable
alarm is that the fact that the greater
number of tho planets will Mt one time this
yoer bc IN superior conjunction, that If, on
tho side OF tho sun most distant from tho
earth. aud that at period when they will
be in pcriholiun or nearly so. There is not
a month in the year but what two or moro
of tho planets aro in conjunction. but the
most noteworthy of these planetary rcla-
tons will occur in tho months of July,
August. and November. On or about the
9Th or 10Th Of July, most of tho planets
will be in tho zodiacol sign of Taurus and
IN conjunction, with the Earth III tho sign
Auuarius. The planet Uranus will be tho
only one excepting tho Earth which will
not nj that period bc in Taurus. Strange
phenomena are predicted in some quarters
from this unusual relationship, rs tho at
traction of all of tho planets excepting
Uranus, will be on one side of tho solar
orb whilo that of the Earth. only will be on
tho other On the Eth Of August, Nep-
tune, Jupiter and Mercury will be in con.
junction, and Venus and Mars will also be
in tho same condition. On the 9TH of
September there will be another double
conjunction, namely, that of Neptune and
Jupiter, aud Saturn and Mars. But in tho
early part of November all of tho planets
will be on one side of the Sun. Neptune,
Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Earth and Mercury
will bc emerging from the sign Taurus and
entering Geminii. Venus aud Uranus will
be Mt the same time in Virgo. On tho 9TH
of that month the planets Mercury, Earth
and Neptune will be in inferior conjunction,
Snnd the planets Venus and Uranus in longi-
tudinal line.
Another astronomical phenomenon OF
the present year has n direct relationship
with tho great Pyramid of Egypt, which,
whatever other significance belongs to it,
is pretty generally conceded to have been
erected for Astronomical observation. There
are some pryamidal enthusiasts who sc
much further than this, and attribute m
inspirational origin and prophetic meaning
to all the lines, measurements and confgu-
ratious of the remarkable structure. Som,
notable Psychologists and astronomers
figure in the list of adherents to such be.
lief Among the latter is Piazzi Smyth
Astronomer Royal for Scotland, whose
work on "Our Inheritance in the Great
Pyramid" is familiar to most readers o.
Astronomy. But one of the most notable
Astronomical events which the Great Pyra.
mid commentaries and which will thi,
year be repeated will be the appearance o
the star q Drdconis in line with the Grea
Gallery or entrance passage of the ancien
structure. Such an event has not trans
pired since the completion of the Grea
Pyramid which is computed to have occur
red in 2l70 b. c.. When that particular
star reaches the position mentioned, it il
further maintained that the celestial dia
will have completed a cycle of over 25,OOC
years, or, in other words, the heaveul,
bodies will have resumed the position the,
were in at that remote period. Accom-
panying the chronicling of this particua
phenomenon are various visionary predic
tons in which Piazzi Smyth and other
indulge, such as important physical ter
restrial changes, unusual atmospherical phe
nomena, and new phases in religious be
liefs. Possibly the words of the Roman
Governor Festus to the Apostle Paul
namely, " that much learning doth max
thee mad" may be applicable to them. Blu
this fact is certain, neither the present no
many generations to come will witness .
many wonderful astronomical phenomen
as are crowded into the present year.