The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-08-01
Planets in August.

positions and movements of the planets and
moon during the month Of August:
VENUS is morning star, and the last on the
list to make her appearance above the horizon
She is travelling south at a rapid rate, being
nearly ten degrees further south at the end Of
the month than she was at the beginning She
Ia now near Jupiter. but at the end OF the
month she has SO nearly approached the sun
that she rises less than half an hour before him.
The fairest of the stars has fallen from her high
estate and presents few features of interest
SATURN is morning star and wins place at
the head of the roll as the most interesting Of
the solar brotherhood during the month
though he is the second in his appearance in
the field. Rising now soon after midnight he
is beautiful to behold az he threads his way on
the celestial concave, while every successive
rising adds IN the briliancv of his appearance
and brings him earlier on the course. At the
end OF the month he will be seen peerng
above the horizon at half-past ten o'clock
JUPITER is morning star. Though second TO
Saturn in interest now, because he rises nearly
three hours later, when the month closes he
will outshine every other star in the firma-
ment. He may be found in the constellation
Gemini, few degrees south of Castor and Pol
lux. though no observer who looks upon the
eastern sky will fail to detect the princely
planet at a glance. He Is travelling towards us.
and will soon he near enough to reward tele-
scopic observation Astronomers are earnestly
waiting FOR favorable conditions for examna-
ton. Close investigation OF his disc will be
made in the hope that some light, may be
thrown upon the cause of the tremendous COM
motions that agitate his chaotic mass.
MARS is morning star, and takes the third
rank in his contributions to epiven the plan
etarv record OF the month On the Doth. at five
O'Clock in the afternoon, he il in conjunction
with Mi Geminorum, star of the third mag
nitude In the constellation OF the Twins. Planet
M hn
the Both to repay observation. Mars is one de-
gree, four minutes north of the nearest ap-
proach. hut they will he considerably farther
apart when visible on the next morning Mn
Ia noteworthy star. for it II near the eclptic
or suns path in the heavens, and near the
point the sun touches on the day Of the summer
solstice. It is also a double star its components
being yellow and blue in color. An opera-glass
or small telescope will aid the observer
NEPTUNE l. morning star. and makes his an
pearance first on the roll. Five planets plav the
part OF morning stars during the month. They
rise in the following order: Neptune, Saturn
Mars, Jupiter and Venus, while they retain
this order OF precedence until August closes
IL Neptune were near enough, he would now be
seen rising in the northeast ahout half-past
eleven o clock in the evening. Saturn follows
half an hour after midnight. Mars is only
twenty minutes later. Jupiter puts in an an
pearance about quarter after three o. cloclt Ia
hour later. Shortly after four o'clock the
the planetary quartet may be seen making
their shining way among the stars.
MERCURY Ia evening star during the month
and presents but one feature OF interest. He
Ia In conjunction with Uranus on the oath, at
ten O'Clock in the morning, being nearly one
degree south. As both planets are invisible,
the event will have to he observed in the
minds eve, To those familiar with the move
ments OF the planets the nictures visible IN
the fancy ara not ALWAYS less ENJOYABLE
than those visible to the physical eye while
they possess this advantage. that neither
clouds nor sunshine can hide them from view.
Mercury makes almost a plunge towards the
south, his declination changing from thirteen
degrees north at the beginning TO almost two
degrees south at the end of the month.
THE August moon fulls on the 18th at ten
minutes after eight o'clock The waning moon
IL in conjunction with Jupiter and Venus on
the LIST. and with Jupiter for the second time
on the 29th. She Ia at her nearest point TO
Mercury on the Sd, and to Uranus on the 9th
On the oath she Is very near Neptune On the
18th she IL in close conjunction with Saturn at
thirty-six minutes after one o'clock in the at
ternoon, passing one degree three minutes
south. In some portions OF the globe, between
thrty-two degrees and seventy degrees south
declination, and where the dark side OF the
earth Ia turned toward the lesser luminary
the moon will be seen to occult Saturn. This will
be the fifth occultation of Saturn that has oc-
CURED during the year The moon completes
the planetary circuit by her conjunction with
Mars on the 9th
THE planetary kaleidoscope Ia not brilliant
, in coloring, nor abundant in variety as the
August days roll on. But there IL always in
teresting material TO reward planetary study,
even when the record Ia comparatively nm
eyentful. Those who rise in the small hours