The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-05-03

June. Before he is lost to view, he makes his
farewell appearance by getting up lovely
picture on the western sky. On the 9th he is
in conjunction with Venus passing nearly one
degree south of her. There is no more inter
esting conjunction among the planets than that
where the queen of the stars and the father
of the GODS approach each other, although the
actors in the present conjunction are not IN
their brightest phase. The planets set about
half-past 8 o'clock, nearly an hour and a
half after the sun. Venus is about five de-
grees and Jupiter four degrees north of the
sunset point. This will be one OF the love-
lest pictures that will be traced upon the sky
during month of intense planetary activity.
Jupiter sets now not long after half-past 3
o'clock at the end of the month he rises near
ly with the sun, about half-past O'Clock.
Mars is evening star during the month, but
his movements are devoid of incident. His
brother planets have absorbed the interest and
left him to plod on with tagging step and les
SEEMING light to the goal they have passed. He
sets now about a quarter before o'clock in the
morning; at the end of the month he sets at
half-past IL o'clock in the evening.
Uranus is evening star and plays the role of
q looker-on, while the other planets take the
part of principal actors. He is still in Leo, in
nearly the same position where he was found
last month. Uranus sets about 3 o'clock in the
morning; at the close of the month he sets
about quarter before O'Clock.
Venus is evening star and heads the list for
her peerless beauty. She is now a brilliant OBJ
ject in the we3t soon after sunset and increas-
ing in size and luster with every successive ap-
pearance. She plays her part in two note
worthy conjunctions during the month. For
she is near Jupiter on the 9th and near Mercu-
ry on the Both, as we have already described.
All through the year she will command su-
preme attention from star-gazers, for the great
Importance attached to her transit, and also for
her own serene and fascinating loneliness, We
nus now sets at twenty minutes after O'Clock;
at the end of the month about twenty minutes
after 9 O. clock in the evening.
The May moon fulls on the 3d. and wins NO
special distinction. But the new moon OF the
18th is the most distinguished OF the year. She
celebrates the commencement OF her course by
causing a total eclipse of the sun, invisible
here, but visible in the eastern hemisphere.
The line of totality passes across the north OF
Africa the south of Asia, and ends in the Pa
cific ocean. The new moon also signalizes her
course on the same day by rare phenomenon
THE oCcULTAIIoN OF JUPITER.
At twenty-four minutes after o'clock
Washington time, the new moon, sixteen hours
and half after her change, will pass directly
over Jupiter and occult or hide him from view
AS from new moon till full, the moon moves
with the dark edge foremost, Jupiter will sud
denly disappear when he reaches the darn
limb, producing startling effect, as II he were
suddenly annihiIated from the sky at q poin,
where his path was unobStructed. There arr
few observers who will possess the practice6
eye required for witnessing an occultation with
the moon so near the sun. But it can be don't
by those who know where to look with the
naked eye and with the aid Of good operi
glass or a small telescope Jupiter, on tina
evening, will be about one and one-thlrd dc
grees north of the sunset point, and about tel
degrees east of the sun, and set few minute
before O'Clock. The occultation of plane
by the moon is rare sight, and that OF Jupite
by the slender crescent will not soon be forgot
ton. The moon satisfied with the production
of a total solar eclipse and an occultation, ha
month, except to pass at respectful distanc
near Mars on the I'D and near Uranus on tn
18th.
May, is, therefore, grand gala season amonl
| the planets Into one short month are crowde,
more important events than those that some
| times illustrate the records Of several success
| sive months. The conjunction Of the tire
| largest planets of the system with the sun; tn
| conjunction of six planets with each other; tn
| superior conjunction of Mercury; the tots
| eclipse of the sun, and the occultation OF Jup
| ter form brilliant succession OF phenomena q
| imposing to the mental eye as they are beaut
| full to the physical eye. The grand feature {
| the month is, however, the number OF planet
| in line with the sun at nearly the same TIME
| and the marvellous preponderance OF planetar
| attraction pulling upon the sun in one diret
| ton Mercury is the first to drop into lint
| Saturn and Neptune follow next, and giganti
| Jupiter is the last to join the ranks. The su
| is now passing through the maximum OF sur
| spots. Whether the planets have anything !
| do with the commotion agitating his surface
| something which no astronomer has yet bee
| able to determine. The problem remains to
| solved in the astronomy OF the future.
L