Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-05-06

Mercury is evening star after the LIST, and
plays an unusually prominent part on the
planetary annals Of the month of May. On
the ID, he comes into superior conjunction
with the sun, when, passing to his eastern
side. he commences bis short course as
evening star. He then follows in the track
OF Venus, oscillarng in straight line east
of the sun towards his eastern elongation.
The swift-footed planet overtakes Venus on
the Both, and the two planets will make a
charming picture at their conjunction or
nearest approach, Mercury being degree
and three quarters west northwest OF Venus.
Observers will find no difficulty in recognize
ing the planets, for the brilliant Venus will be
a guide to point out the brother planet, who
Is difficult to find. The planets must be
looked for in the northwest, Mercury four de-
grees, and Venus three degrees north OF the
sunset point, both planets being about
twenty-three degrees east of the sun. As
they are above the horizon an hour and a
half later than the sun, there is every reason
to anticipate rarely beautiful conjunction.
Mercury on the 18th is In conjunction with
Jupiter about two degrees north. Jupiter
will then be plainly visible, aud Mercury far
| enough from the sun to be possibly picked
up by bright eyed observers, as the planets
| do not set till after s o'clock. The most
favorable time in all the year for seeing
Mercury as evening star with the unatded
eve commences about the middle Of the
month and continues through the first part
of June ANY Dainstaking observer will be
sure to find him east of the sun, and about
three degrees north Of the sunset point.
Saturn is evening star until the 9th.
Ga the 9th, at three O'Clock in
- hn in continuation
with the sun, rising and setting with
him and completely hidden from sight
in his bright beams. The earth, the sun,
and Saturn are then in straight line, with
the sun In the centre. Saturn is at his
greatest distance from the earth, being more
than ten hundred million miles away, in
stead Of about eight hundred and thirty
million miles, his distance at opposition.
Conjunction finishes Saturn's course as
evening star. He then becomes morning
star, aud will rise earlier and grow brighter
as he recedes from the sun and approaches
the earth, until in the summer months
he will appear before the dawn. Every
one should follow bis course, as he will
present a noteworthy aspect for careful
study, while he travels from conjunction to
opposition. His approaching perihelion,
his widely opening rings, and his great
northern declination will make him appear
larger and brighter than he has done for
nearly thirty years. An interesting plane
tary event of the month is that Saturn and
Neptune reach conjunction on the same day,
the former at 3 o'clock In the morning and
the latter at o'clock In the afternoon.
| Another event, in which the same planets
are actors, occurs at 8 o'clock on the morn
| ing of the 18th. Saturn and Neptune are
then in close conjunction, Saturn being
| twenty-five minutes south.
Neptune is the evening star until the 9th,
and then morning star for the rest of the
month. He is in conjunction with the sun
at o'clock on the afternoon Of the 9th,
when in his turn he comes In to line with
the sun and the earth, the sun being in the
centre His distance then from us is more
than twenty-eight million miles, figures that
| our finite powers can form little conception
| of Providence Journal.