Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-09-03
sEPTEMBER'S STARRY SKIES.
(From the Providence Journal. }

UOnuf Is Cuc W Sul paooiiis, 'oe"'I " "P
pearance, Venus easily wins the proud po
sition. For thus far, she shows but faint
sigus of the decrease in size and brilliancy
to which she must as inevitably yield as the
less favored members of the solar family
She continues to travel westward, lengthen-
ing out the invisible chain that binds her TO
the sun, until the 2lst, when she can so no
further. On that day, at o'clock in the
morning, she reaches her greatest western
elonCation. Here she changes her course,
approaching the sun with slower step than
she receded from him. Although she will
be morning star during the rest of the year,
her luster will gradually grow dim as she
draws near the sun, until it is entirely OBJ.
scured in his bright beams.
Jupiter is morning star. His near neigh
borhood to Venus at the close of the month
entities him to place next to her on the
planetary record. Though late conner
among the morning stars, he is far enough
from the sun to be easily visible, rising now
an hour and half before his great proto.
type, and two hours after Venus, who
looms above the eastern horizon at , o'clock.
The king and queen of the stars will rapid
ly approach each other OH the celestial
road during the month. On tho 10Th they
are only one hour apart, and at the close of
the month, they are only separated by the
short space Of fifteen minutes. Planetary
astronomy presents few more interesting
scenes than the one that pictures Venus and
Jupiter, the leaders of the starry host, as
they approach conjunction. The Septem-
Der morning sky will be resplendent with
this exhibition. The fairest gem Of the suns
family of worlds, raises her beaming face
above the eastern hills shining with bril-
liancy on the dark background of the sky.
For o time she reigns alone, and then the
princey Jupiter appears to dispute her
sway, the interval between the rivals de-
creasing with each succeeding appearance.
The exhibition takes place on the eastern
sky, commencing about 2 o'clock in the
morning, and continuing till the stars pale
in the glow oi the coming day
Saturn is morning star and outranks the
other planets in the important materials he
affords for study Not only is he beauti-
full object in the sky during almost the en-
tire night, hut he is also approaching the
earth under favorable conditions seldom
surpassed in lis long career. On the 10th,
at 10 O'Clock in the morning, he is in quad
rature with the sun on his western side.
He is then 90 degrees distant from the sun,
at, what may be called, the half way house
between conjunction and opposition, and is
in line position for observation both with
the naked eye and the telescope. He is al
so conveniently situated for this purpose,
rising now at half past II O'Clock in the
evening, and, at the end Of the month, max
ing his appearance at half past Q o'clock.
A peculiar interest is felt in the approach
of the ring-girded planet to the earth at
the present time, for intricate questions are
to be studied connected with his complicated
system. We say studied" for Saturn must
roll round in his vast circuit many times
before these questions will find satisfactory
answers. The magnificent member of the
planetary brotherhood is drawing near the
terrestrial domain under conditions that
will not be exactly repeated until the pres
ent generation OF astronomers has given
place to the one that will succeed. For
though astronomers as class are dlstin-
guished for longevity, an average of % years
spans the length of their highest power of
observation, while nearly 80 years must
pass before Saturn presents the same ad-
vantageous position be now holds. During
this year. and the next, the finest telescope
views of Saturn and his rings may be OBJ
tanned in Northern latitudes. For during
this time. he passes his perihelion, reaches
his creates northern declination, and his
rings are open to their widest extent these
events occurring before the year 1885 closes.
There is notcworthy analogy between
the solar system and the Saturnian system
The sun is surrounded by eight planets and
ring of asteroids. Saturn is surrounded
by eight moons, and ring resembling in
some Of its features the zone of asteroids.
Uranus is evening star until the Goth when
he becomes morning star. On the Goth al
10 o'clock in the evening, he is in conjunc'
ton with the sun. The four great planets
are then on the SUMS western side, and are
all shining as morning stars. Neptune anC
Saturn have passed quadrature and are
more than halfway advanced toward oppo
siton. Jupiter is travelling towards quad
rature and Uranus is just commencing hi:
course towards the same goal.
Mercury is evening star until the 18th
when he Joins the ranks of the morning. stars
On the 10th at 10 o'clock in the morning, ht
is in inferior conjunction with the snn, pass
ING to his western side and increasing the
number of morning stars to five in the fol
lowing order of distance from the sun. Nep
time heads the roll, followed by Saturn, We
ms Jupiter and Mercury After the 2Ott
Uranus increases the number to six; thu;
every planet, with one exception is on the
suns western side.
Neptune is morning star and the leader
the shining brotherhood. He is of LITTLE
importance now in his far off quarters, bu
| we have faith that sometime in the distan
future he will point the way to world
worlds lying beyond his sphere. Meantime
his slow steps as he travels on his might.
circuit must be carefully followed by thos
who would detect the secrets held within hi
grasp.
Mars is evening star, and the sole repre-
sentative of the fraternity in that role II
is moving slowly towards conjunction, bu
we must wait till 1856 for another opposi
ton. At this epoch, aud for . month befor'
and after, the ruddy planet will take on a
imposing aspect.