The Portland daily press., 1882-07-04
The Starry Heavens.
Movements Of the Planets for July.
Providence Journal !

providence Journal
Neptune is morning star, and takes the first
rank in the order of precedence; as he is the
first of the morning Quartette to make his ap-
pearance above the eastern horizon. He wends
his unseen course among the stars without
single incident to disturb the even tenor of his
way, slightly increasing the distance between
himself and his brother planets, aad leaving
US to imagine that, if he were only nearer, he
would present magnificent appearance, for
he ranks third among the brotherhood in size.
He possesses also the charm of novelty, having
only been introduced to our acquaintance since
1916, and will forever bear testimony to the
far-reaching- power of scientific research, his
place being mapped out in the sky before his
presence was detected 1t is we'll, therefore,
to keep the track of the most distant member
the suns family of worlds
Neptune rises now about half-past o'clock
in the morning; at the close of the month he
rises about half-past II o'clock in tho evening
Saturn is morning star and takes the second
rank in the order of rising, His path differs
little from that marked out for him during the
last month. At the close of the month, his
right ascension is Oh, 32m, and his declination
is 16o, So, north, He may then be found
somewhat nearer to the two brilliant clusters,
the Pleiades and the Hyades in Taurus, and
still forming a triangle with them. 1t will be
easy to distinguish him from the stars near him
by his serene light and pale tint. He will be
beautiful object for observation, rising few
minutes before midnight, five hours before
sunrise, and having so far advanced toward
terrestrial domains as to give an earnest Of the
unusual splendor of his appearance at the
coming opposition in November.
Saturn rises now about quarter before
2 o'clock in the morning; at the close Of the
month he rises few minutes before midnight
Jupiter is morning star, and ranks third in
order ofrisiDg, but holds the preeminence in
size and brilliancy, as he shines in radiant
beauty SURPRISING every other star that gows
in the heavens during the small hours that
precede At the end of the month
he will be star worth beholding as he leads
the heavenly host for nearly three hours be-
fore the sun appears above the horizon and
hides his lesser glory. His peerless face will
be recognized at glance as he looms forth
from the azure background OF the sky. He
holds his co rt among some oil the most Drill
liant stars and clusters that spange the spa
cious armament. Capella bears him company
on the north, mighty Orion and the glowing
Sirius guard his footsteps on the south, and the
morning sky while he remains lord OF the as
cendant forms celestial picture which will
more than repay the early riser for the effort
required to behold it.
Jupiter rises now few minutes before
O'Clock in the morning; at the close OF the
month he rises at twenty three minutes after
1 o'clock
Mercury is morning star throughout the
month. On the 18th at 6 o'clock in the after
noon, he reaches his greatest western elonga-
tion. being at that time little more than
twenty degrees west of the sun. Here his prog
ress Westward from the sun ceases and be COM
rnances to retrace his course towards the sun.
Although he is often several degrees farther
from the sun at one of his elongations than he
ia at nresent, his high northern destination,
twenty-one degrees, brings him into ono OF the
most favorable positions of the year for obser-
walton. He may be found about an nour Dc.
fore sunrise on the 10th in the nortneast, ABOUT
a quarter of degree north OF the sunrise
point, and twenty degrees west OF the sun. LIS
position in right ascension is 22h, l9m., ana
his declinatiop is 30 L north. He may also De
seen for week before and after elongation
1t is the last opportunity during the year, with
one exception, for glimpse of this shy planet
as morning star.
Mercury now rises not far from hslfpast
o'clock in the morning; at the close OF the
month, he rises not far from quarter before
o'clock.