The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-12-29
THE PLANETS IN JANUARY.
Something for the siar-Gaxers.
Providence Journal.l


and then evening star until the eth OF Au-
gust. II is sometimes difficult TO decide
which OF the planets wins the place of
honor for the month. But those who watch
the movements Of these shining wanderers
will agree in placing Jupiter at the head OF
the list. On the 10th he reaches the most
interesting point in bis course, for at 10
O'Clock on the evening OF that day he is in
opposition. 4 straight line drawn from
the mighty Jupiter to the more mighty
sun will then pass through the earth, our
little planet lying between the two mon
sters OF the system. Ii would take more
than a million earths to make one sun, and
thirteen hundred earths to make one ,Ju-
piter. We can therefore learn a lesson OF
our own insignificance when we compare
our globe with these huge masses.
At opposition Jupiter takes on his most
brilliant aspect. and no one can wonder
that the ancientS named him for the greatest
OF their gods, &" star OF imperial Jove."
Though he never shines with the fascina-
ting beauty that distinguishes Venus at her
period OF greatest brillancy, he enjoys q
great advantage over his fair competitor.
As he is an outer planet, he may he seen
opposite the sun, rising when the sun
sets. and increasing his brightness
against the blacknesS Of the midnight
sky. As Venus is an inner planet, aud
never departs much more than 45o from
the sun, She is never visible much more
than three hours after sunset or three
hours before sunrise. Jupiter can make
the grand circuit OF the sky, being superb
object during the entire night. Venus
oscillates in straight lines east and west OF
the sun, a If she were bound to him by an
invisible chain. In reality. both planets
move round the sun the same as the earth.
The different aspects they take on are SIM
ply the way they look to observers on the
earth. the giant planet travelling outside OF
our domain, the fairest Of the planets trav-
elling within our boundaries. We never
look upon Jupiter at opposition without
rejoicing that, when the vast nebulOuS
mass that once flled and extended far be-
vond the limits OF the solar system quick
cned into life and threw of the con-
centric rings Of which the planets
were formed, the largest rings condensed
into the planet Jupiter. Thus the lesser
members OF the brotherhood may behold
the magnificent spectacle OF planet Sec
ond only to the great sun himself, minia-
ture solar system with a quartette OF re-
volving satellites, telescope wonder on
which the eve rests with ever new delight.
The huge planet has not yet cooled down,
bis primeval fires still blaze. and he gives
out light and heat to the moons that sur
round him, and as readily yield to his SOW
ereign power as their mighty lord bows 10
the suns resistless sway. Observers on
the earth, nearly five hundred million
miles away. may watch the process
OF world-making on this distant sphere.
In :he belts that diversity his disc,
in the huge spots that from time to
time agitate his mass, in the immense
cIoud-atmospheTe that concealS his fiery
nucleus, we behold on Il grand scale the
progress OF the cooling process that MIL
lions of years ago stirred to the depths the
earth's lesser bulk. before ii developed to
the perfection OF its present condition rs
an abode for animate life. Just rs surely
will the prince of planets reach, latest OF
all tie suns family, the same perfection OF
development when millions of years hence
the earth. like the moon, has arrived at the
period of inevitable decay. and preceded
on the list by Mercury. Mars, and perhaps
Venus, will be floating through space rs
dead world. Viewed in this light. every
changing belt, every new spot, and every
sudden rift, are q revelation in Jovlan
language OF the tremendous commotion
that will eventually bring order out OF
chaos.
The red spot and the bright spot have
not entirely disappeared. though as the
planet sped on its course away from the
earth no traces OF them were seen later
than Nav. As the planet again approached
us. Mr.. Dennng. Of the Bristol Obserya-
tory. found on the morning OF the 9th OF
October that the red spot was visible, al-
though very faint, At times the shape OF
the spot came out distinctly, notwlthstand-
ing its feebleness, and the indentation or
hollow IN the great south belt near the
SPOT continues very conspicuous figure.
Later on the same morning Mr.. Denning
saw the equatorial white spot as it
crossed Jupi:er's central meridian.
II was very bright, and seemed to
nreserye the conspicuous appearance
il presented in 1880. Observers viii there
fore have an object in the telescope study
of this planet beside the enjoyment OF the
brilliant spectacle he presents. The red
spot, the white spot, the intensity and va
rie6 shades OF coloring in the belts, all
have meaning. Fortunate is the observer
who can decipher ii High up in the
north. at his nearest point to the earth,
above the horizon the entire night, the
BRIGHTEST of the swarming stars that pierce
the sky-depths--such is Jupiter at opposi-
tion. and superbly will he shine during
the clear and crisp moonless nights OF
The right ascension Of Jupiter on the
Ist is Sh. 17m., his decllnailon Is W Ia
north, and bis diameter Is 1874.
Jupiter rises on the lst about hali-past
O'Clock in the evening; on the 3lst he sets
al O'Clock in the morning.
VENUS is evening star throughout the
month. IL Jupiter wins the first place, she
* entitled to the second. and after this
month has passed her brightness will be
on the increase. while bis brilliancy VIII
slowly fade. Venus is superbly beautuul
in the western sky for nearly TWO hours
after sunset. Travelling from superior
conjunction TO eastern elongation, she Is
constantly receding from the sun IN hef
eastern course, and, at the same time, APP
nroaehipg the earth. Careful observers
will easily note her increase in SIZE an0
BRIGHTNESS. and the longer time she II above
the horizon, and will rejoice that during
the entire winter she will hang her golden
lamn i'm the western sky, serenely SHINING
in the twilight glow almost as soon a. thc
sun has disappeared below the horizon.
Venus IL travelling rapidly northward'
thirteen degrees during tbe
month. and greatly changing her position
In regard TO the sun, being now TWO de-
orees and half north OF the sunset point,
snd at the end Of the month ten degrees
north OF the sunset point. "A charming