The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-04

about as near MI on the Esd. On June % and
25, the Gun will pass just north of these two
stars.
Saturn, the ring planet is more than two
hours west of Jupiter, and too near the horizon
to be seen easily. 1t will be in conjunction with
the sun May 20, and fine morning star in July.
When favorably situated for observation with
telescope this planet affords the prettiest sight
| of any of the heavenly bodies,
| Uranus is very near the eastern boundary of
Leo; about five degrees nearly west of the star
Beta in Virgo. The planet will pass very close
to this star in October. Uranus is just visible 10
| the naked eye-like a sixth magnitude star
when the moon is absent. With q magnifylng
power of LOO it presents fine little dask.
| Mercury is also an evening star, and may be
seen very easily about the middle of the month
nearly two hours northwest OF Jupiter. 1t is
much further north ut this elongation than it
generally is, which makes it easier TO find and
to be visible longer than common. Indeed
! it can be seen with the naked eye
about every clear evening of the
Notwithstanding uncommon for Mercury
Those who wish to observe this delicate planet
should make use of so favorable an opportunity,
| as it will not occur again soon.
Many persons have been familiar with Venus
as a morning star nearly ever since the transit,
| in December. 1t is now moving toward the sun,
and will be in conjunction Sept, 20. This planet
and Mars will be in conjunction May 10, when
Venus will be nearly one degree south of Mars,
| and much the brighter Of the two But Mars
VIII increase in brightness, while Venus will d.
minish.
The moon is now having much to do in getting
up an interest in celestial observation. On Sun
day, the 9th inst, she will pass between the
earth and the sun at O'Clock in the evening,
causing one of the greatest solar eclipses that
ever occurs. The sun wttl be entirely hid about
six minutes, nearly three times as long as it conf
monty is in a total eclipse. This gives a much
better opportunity than common to observe the
attending phenomena. 1t seems a misfortune,
however, that this interesting occasion can be
| witnessed only in the South Pacific ocean. But
several enterprising astronomers have gone
there to see and learn what they can If the moon
could have got q fraction of a degree
farther north before coming up with
the sun the show might have been in
the North Pacific and United States, as we'll
as where it is. But the heavenly bodies do not
change their courses to accommodate the peo-
pie. We must reconcile, or adapt, ourselves to
| the unehanglng laws of creation. In four hours
after the eclipse the moon will pass Neptune
But nobody can see them so near the sun. The
next evening the moon will pass over and occult
Saturn again. The two bodies will be near the
horizon, and hardly visible to the naked eye II the
sky is clear they can be viewed with telescope
before dark Still two days later e p. NJ. of 9TH,
our satellite will appear near Jupiter, and week
| later in the neighborhood of Uranus. The first
quarter will occur In the evening of the 18th; a
very good time to view lunar scenery through
| telescope And still another show of much in
terest comes off Qf the sky be clear on the even
| ing of the 21st. About 10 o'clock, the moon will
hide the fine double star, Beta Scorpii. About
11:30, the stars will reappear at the moons
western edge. But, as Luna comes near the star,
her flood of light will probably hide it to natural
vision, so that small glass may be required to
see the occultation. And the two stars being
very close together must be magnified with a
goOd-sized telescope to see them separated.
| Looking over to the southwest we see the dog
| star, which astronomers call Sirius.
The bright star Capella is north of Jupiter,
| about oneUhird the way to the north star. South
| of Jupiter, about One-third to Sirius and below a
| line joining them, we meet Betelgeuse, the
| brightest star in the Orion. Then above, form
| ing large triangle with Betelgeuse and Sirius,
| we find Prooyon in CAMS Minor the Little Dog.
Another goodsized triangle IS formed by Pro-
| cyon, Jupiter and the twin stars Castor and
Pollux above. The delicate Beehive cluster be-
tween two little stars in Cancer, is nearly half
way from Castor, the north twin, to the
Sickle, over east. The white star in the south
end of the Sickle is Regulus. That bright star
away northeast is Alpa Lyr@. Arcturus is we'll
up in the eastern sky, and Regulus, in the
Sickle, is little west of the meridian, and rather
more than half way from Arcturus to Procyon.
Spica, or Alpha Virgins, is the name of that
pretty star an hour or so east of the meridian
and half way from horizon TO zenith The oblong
| square of four stars nearly west of it form the
| outlines of Corvus W. DAWSON.
| SPICELAND, May 3.