The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-10-01
Providence Journal.l
Planets in October.

NcpIuHo 10 mOTIlug star, anu RANKS HrSt,
if classified according to priority of appear
ance, for he is the first of the five morning
stars to make his unseen way above the
horizon, rising early in the evening. 1t may
seem anomalous to call Neptune morning
star when he rises not long after sunset. But
the outer planets ara ranked as morning
stars from conjunction to opposition, the
path ON which Neptune is now travelling.
The shorter the time between the hour of
their rising and the hour of sunset, the near
err they are to opposition. 1t may be thus
seen that Neptune is rapidly approaching
this important point in his course. We shall
probably never know how grand spectacle
this distant orb might present on nearer
approach, but we may hope that the astron-
omer is born who will discover that he is
not the most distant planet obeying our CEN
trail sun.
Saturn is morning star, and takes the sec
ond rank in the order of rising. He is now
a superb object in the eastern sky after 0
O'Clock, and cannot fail to be readily rec
ognized, from his vicinity to the well-known
cluster of the Pleiades and the rudy Aide
baran, and fiom the serene aspect he takes
on. Fortunately for the student, an crdina-
ry telescope will reveal a portion of the won
ders that surround this magnificent planet,
unequaled in our own system, and invisible
from every shining star that studs the sky's
depths. Saturn contributes little to the in
cidents of the month, but observers will find
him delightful object for investigation as
he draws nearer to the earth, and rises ear
lier every night.
Mars is morning star, and takes the third
rank in the order of rising until the 10Th,
when Jupiter seemingly outstrips him in the
race. For on the 10Th, at O'Clock in the
afternoon, the two planets are in conjanc-
ion, being about one degree apart, Mars be-
ing north. They will be near together when
they rise soon after IL O'clock on the even
ing of the 10Th, the rudy hues of Mars and
the golden tint of Jupiter making an inter-
esting contrast, and as clearly determining
the individuality of the planet as the fea-
lures of well-known friends distinguish them
from each other
An event of unusual interest occurs this
month in the progress of Mars. The con-
stellation Cancer or the Grab contains neb
ulous cluster of minute stars known as
Praesepe. The cluster is luminous enough
to be distinctly seen by the naked eye on
moonless nights. On the oath. at MONDAY,
Mars passes into this cluster, and when he
rises in the evening about II O'Clock. he will
be an interesting object for observation, es-
pecially through the telescope. There is
no need Of describing his position, for he is
then short distance northeast of Jupiter,
and can be easily recognized. On the 31st
at midnight, Mars is in 1uadrature with The
sun, being the fourth to reach this epoch IN
his course, Neptune, Saturn and Jupiter
having preceded him. He is then 800 in
tOr1u ind Off l,oe .c..
night and setting about MONDAY 1t will
be noticed how nearly Mars aud Jupiter
travel in the same path during the month,
and how close they seem together as. seen
from the earth, though hundreds of millions
of miles away,.and the whole family of the
asteroids intervene between the outermost
of the inner planets, and the innermost of
the outer planets.
Jupiter is morning star, and takes the
fourth rank in the order of rising until the
10Th, when coming into conjunction with
Mars, he usurps his place and takes the
third rank among his peers. But he exceeds
every planet in the system and every star
In the heavens in the surprising beauty of
his appearance. Much to the joy of astron-
omers, he will soon be in a position favora-
bic for telescope research. No planet in
the solar family exceeds in interest the one
that holds place second only to the sun in
size and majesty. The desire to learn some
thing new concerning our giant brother in
creases every year, and the constantly re-
curing red spots, white spots and intensely
colored belts are proofs of Jovian activity
that whet the curiosity of diligent observers.
Few aspects of the disc at the coming oppo-
sition will escape the attention of eager
watchers, who make speciality of Jovian
astronomy.
Uranus is morning star, the fifth in rank
in the order of rising. On the 18th, at 7
O'Clock in the morning, he is in close con-
junction with Beta Virgins, being only s.
north of the star. A powerful telescope will
be required TO bring to view the near ap-
proach of planet and star as they come above
the horizon about o'clock.
Mercury is evening star until the 9th, and
morning star for the rest of the month. On
the 4th. at 0 o'clock in the morning, he is in
conjunction with Venus, but they are so
near the sun that the meeting of the inner
plapets will not be visible to terrestrial OBJ
servers On the 9th, at S o'clock in the
evening. Mercury is In inferior conjunction
with the sun, passing between the earth and
the great luminary, and reappearing on his
western side as morning star. On the goth,
at o'clock In the afternoon, he is in con-
junction with Gamma Virgins, being about
one degree south of the star. Bright-eyed
observers may possibly see the approachh, Of
star and planet on the morning of the goth,
for the planet is then visible. But the at,
mospheric conditions must be nearly perfect
or the quest will be in vain. On the 22d, at
10 O'Clock in the morning, Mercury reaches
his greatest western elongation, being at
that time 19o % west of the sun. This ia
the last favorable time during the wear for
seeing Mercury as morning star. He rises
on the 22d, an hour and half before the
sun, and must be looked for nine degrees
north Of the sunrise point. He will be yisi-
BILE at lat time and also several days before
and after elongation.
Venus is evening star, and is the only
nj not fha nvnninO roll durr,nr tl,o o....-11