St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-04
DECLMBER SKIES.
The Stellar Display for the Closing Year.
Province Journal


The Stellar Display for the Closing Year.
Province Journal.
Saturn is a morning star until the 10Th,
when he takes on a new role according to
astronomical classification. Whatever may
be the position OF a superior planet, he is
classed as morning star from conjunction TO
opposition, and as evening star from oppOsi-
ton TO conjunction. Though Saturn has
been prominent. object in the evening sky
for the last two months. he has for this reas-
on been numbered among the morning stars
The great epoch in his course that transfers
him from one side OF the sun to the other oc-
ours during the month, and as this is the
most interesting period in bis circuit round
the sun to jewellers on the earth, our ring
grdled neighbor easily wins the place of hon.
or on the December planetary annals. The
much desired epoch occurs on the 18th, at 2
O'Clock IN the morning. When the sun
sinks below the western horizon, this beam
ing planet shows his radient face above the
eastern horizon and shines during the en-
tire night, descending in the west as the
great luminary appears in the east Saturn
may be easily recognized among his starry
ne.ghbors, being nearly east OF the Pleiades,
and about half way between Capelia on the
north and Betilguese on the south. He
shines with serene light entirely different
from that of the twinkling stars. He rises
on the LIST at quarter after O'Clock in the
evening, and is the only visible planet in the
heavens until Jupiter appears upon the scene
Toe telescopie Saturn is nov the personifca-
ton Of grandeur and sublimity. Even in a
small instrument the picture is one of sur
passing beauty.
Il have seen the planet single and now |
see it double" was Gallileo's wondering ex-
clamation as he turned his imperfect instru-
ment 10 the heavens in the dawn Of the as
Economical day. Forty years passed before
the strange appendages, sometimes visible
and sometimes invisible, were proved 10 be
the rings of Saturn. With our finer instru-
ments and the food of knowledge poured
forth from observation and research, we have
still 10 thank the pioneer astronomers for the
first fruits OF this ennoblng silence, and for
a devotion to the cause that cost them Ohio
guy Imprisonment and even martyrdom. A
very powerful glass is required 10 bring out
both the magnificent and the delicate aspects
of the most charming telescope object in the
heavens. as well as the briiiancy OF coloring,
which is grand feature in the Saturuian
system.
ing the month is marked with an event and
for this reason be wins the second place on
the planetary record. On the l4th, at
O'Clock in the afternoon, ne is in quadrature
" til the sun, on his western side, half his
course from conjunction 10 opposition beil. 2
then completed.
Mercury is evening star. He reaches his
/ greatest eastern elongation on the 18th at :
O'Clock in the evening, and Is then 90 de-
grees Is minutes east OF the SUP. He may
be seen AZ that time with the naked eye. II
the atmosphere BE- clear aud the sky cloud
less. His great southern declination viii
make HIM a difficult object 10 pick up. Oh
srv-rs inclined 10 try must look for him on
the 18th, and few days befoIe aud after.
about one degree south OF the sunset point, in
the constellation Sagitiarius a short distance
northeast Of the inverted dippr.
Mars is evening star. ant rs well as Sat-
uru, Uranus and Mercury contributes 10 the
incidents of the month. His pui lies in
close proximity to that OF Mercury during
the whole month so that the two planets
are twice in conjunction. The first coniunc-
ton occurs on the 4th, at IL O'Clock in the
evening when Mercury is degree 20 min
I utes south of Mars. The second oOniunc-
7 ton occurs on the 2oth at midnight when
Mercury is2 degrees % minutes north of
Mars. The events are noteworthy simply as
Interesting planetary aspects, for both plan
cts are too near The sun 10 be visible.
Jupiter is morning star throughout the
month. growing in interest as he draws
nearer 10 the earth. He rises now an hour
before midnight, and. when the month
closes, he viii make his appearance above
the eastern horizon at o'clock in the even
ing. He is still in the neighborho cd OF Reg
illus, few degrees east The brilliant planet
and the first magnitude star afford fine OBJ
portunity for studying the contrast between
planet and star. Jupiter is superb. and is
Increasing in size aud brilliancy in Decem-
her. After he appears upon the scene he
ODDS the sceptre Of sovereignty with power
hat the brightest star OF the myriad host nav
not dispute. Even Saturn, beaming mildly
from the heights above him, treads the celes-
3 iial pathway with becoming humility in the
presen &c OF his more powerful brother. Ju-
piter is almost alone in his present position.
BE has left behind him the grand galaxy of
stab, among which, for the two previous
yearsshe made bis shining way, and Reyulus
is his sole bright companion.
Ven us is morning star She Is still a
charming object in the eastern sky for two