The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-11-06
The Planets in November.


Neptune is morning star until the 18th,
when he becomes evening star. He retains
until that time his prominence among the
planets on the morning roll, being the first
to make his appearance in the field. On
the 18th, at four o'clock in the morning, the
event in his synodic period most interesting
to terrestrial observers, takes place. He is
then in opposition with the sun. AS the
wcrd implies, he is opposite to the sun, ris-
ing when the sun sets and setting when the
sun rises. He is at his nearest point to the
earth-the sun, the earth and Neptune be-
ing in straight line, with the earth in the
centre.
Neptunian astronomers have an advan-
tage over terrestrial ones, and can find little
difficulty in measuring the distance of the
fixed stars. While the earth has 1870, 0o0,-
600 miles-the diameter of her orbit-for a
base line, Neptune sweeps round the sun in
an immense orbit whose diameter, or base
line for measuring the distance of the stars,
is $3.50, 100000 miles But there are disad-
vantages to counterbalance this advantage
1t takes Neptune 1855 of our years to revolve
once around the sun, and astronomers there
must wait more than eighty years to make
measurem ents in opposite points of his or
bit
Saturn is morning star until the 2Sth, and
then evening star. On the 2Sth, at eleven
o'clock in the evening, Saturn is in opposi-
ton with the sun, the eliminating point of
his size and brilliancy for the present year.
He will be a superb object for observation
during the month, rising now an hour and a
half after sunset. coming every evening ear
Her above the horizon, and shining so serene
ly in the evening sky that he needs no one to
point him out as he travels on his way near
the Pleiades and Aldebaran, with whom he
has long kept company. Very clear-sighted
observers may see him in an elongated as
pect, on account of his widely open rings A
telescope of moderate dimensions will give
surprisingly lovely picture of this unique
planet, and every one interested in astrono-
my should make an effort 10 obtain tele-
scopic view of this wonder of the skies.
On the LIST, at midnight, Saturn is in con-
junction with Alpha Tauri, or Aldebaran.
oSOOAA0
planet and star during the year, the previous
one having occurred on the 18th of August,
at almost the same point in the sky, with
only difference of 10> in declination There
fore Saturn is nearly in the same position in
the heavens he occupied in August, although
he has been wandering in his orbit in true
planetary fashion, sometimes straight for
ward, sometimes backward, and sometimes
stationary. Jupiter is morning star through
L. i
pears above the eastern hills star gaZers pay
involuntary homage to the brilliant planet
that unerringly pursues his stately course in
the star depths, and is visible through the
entire night Observers will not need to sit
up late to obtain glimpse of him, for he
rises now at half-past ten O'Clock, and, rising
four minutes earlier every night, will be
above the eastern horizon at half-past eight
O'Clock at the close of the month.
Mars is morning star, but contributes no
incidents to the annals of the month. He
is in the constellation Cancer, though he
makes his way into Leo before the month
closes. His increase in size and rudy col
or are plainly perceptible, his apparent di-
ameter having doubled since the LIST of Octe- 4
Der.
Uranus is morning star, and pursues his
slow and solitary way among the insignif-
can't stars of Virgo. He, like Mars, is mev-
ing in direct course, but at present is an
object of little interest.
Mercury is morning star until the Goth,
and evening star the resi- of the month. On
the Goth, at one o'clock in the morning, he
is in superior conjunction with the sun,
passing behind and below him, and reap
pearing on his eastern side as morning
star.
Venus is evening star during the whole
month the only planet that plays this part
without change. Thosgh setting now forty
minutes after the sun, at the end of the
month she will be above the horizon little
more than an hour after sunset, and can be
easily seen. Her place will then be far south
in the constellation Sagittarius, % 35I south
Of the sunset point.
The November moon falls on the 18th, at |
forty-one minutes after eleven o'clock in the |
morning. None of the planets lie near the |
moons path until she nearly reaches the |
full, when she is in conjunction with Nep-
tune, the planet being Is south. On the
18th, at MONDAY, she is in conjunction with
Saturn, being 10 2, south. Observers in
some localities between $50 and To south
declination will see Saturn occultated, MAX
ing the eighth oecultation of this planet dur
ing the year. On the 18th the moon is at
her nearest point to Jupiter; on the goth
she is near Mars: on the 23d she is near IRA
nus. On the goth the new moon is in con-
junction with Mercury.