The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-27
Venus, Jupiter and Mars-spots on the Sun

Venus, Jupiter and Mars-Spots on the Sun.
Written for the journal by VIM. Dawson.
About three weeks ago Venus was at its great
est angular distance from the sun, 49, 1t then
presented exactly half-moon shape, as seen
through the telescope. 1t is now assuming the
crescent form, its prettiest phase.
Approaching the earth, and line of range with
the sun, the crescent grows narrower and
longer, and will disappear entirely at the time
of conjunction with the sun, July IL, when the
illuminated side of Venus is entirely away from
the earth, and the planet invisible to us. This
will be the first inferior conjunction of Venus
since the notable transit Dec. G. 1882. At that
time the planet passed exactly between the
earth and sun; this time it passes south of the
sun, and cannot make transit to the earth.
Passing by the sun it assumes the role of morn
ing star, and shows fine crescent again.
Jupiter is the next bright star in the evening
sl1y-highef up and further south than Venus.
Its distance from the sun is very great compared
With that of Venus-always far outside of the
earth's orbit; so its phase is always roundi
Seen through telescope about the size of my
own l4.6 inches aperature and six feet
long) Jupiter looks about as large as the full
moon does to the naked eye. A dark. narrow
belt is plainly visible across the planet,
appearing just ,t above R,,o, the center enter
DINNER, one of them having faded very much
within few years past. The great red spot
which attracted so much attention three to five
years ago has almost entirely faded out and dis
appeared. Thus considerable changes OBJ
served to occur ON this giant and distant planet.
The four moons of Jupiter make a feature of
much interest in the observation of this system.
We never tire of contemplating their varying
distances and rapid motions about the primary.
They are generally in a nearly straight row, and
in line with the belt; and with exception
not far from the size of our own moon-2, l60
miles diameter. The third satellite is larger
than the others. h.,
Mars is still further east and south, about as
far from Jupiter as it is from Venus, and in a
row with them. The bright star just south of
Mars is Regulus, in the south end Of the sickle
constellation of Leo. Mars will be recognized as
the red, fiery planet 1t is smaller than Venus
only 1000 miles in diameter-but much further
from the sum- 1t is next from the earth in order
of distance, and never takes on the crescent form
like Venus, though it sometimes exhibits the
gbbOus phase-more than half-moon 1t now
appears nearly round and quite small, like a
little reddish moon. 1t has two tiny moons,
now too far away and near the sun to be seen
with the best telescope in the world This
planet will be degree north of Regulus
May 81.
Spots on the sun are still numerous The cur
rent maximum, or greatest spot show,
was due more than two years ago;
but greater show more spots) occurred
year afterward, viz: July "A, 1888. They are
not quite so numerous for several months past
though saw more than one hundred on April
28th ult. Several sun-spots have lately been visi-
BILE to the naked eye, and as large as the earth.
Such q one passed over to the other side of the
sun few days ago. The average length of q
sun-spot period, from one minimum to the next,
is about eleven years. So we can hardly expect
the ensuing minimum to occur before the early
part of 1890 But calculating from the maxi
mum of 1870, it might be looked for at least two
years sooner.
.SPIoELAND, May %.