Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-11-01
SWEEPING TIE HEAVENS.
TIE cgLEsnAL pANoRAMA.
flssess and Their Movements In Ne,em'
hsv- D he Principle stars aud the neteoss.
tpxcxtaenee Journall

eNGt OF the month. Tor nc reaches tnc poiht
In his career oi the greatest importance to
steerycrs on this planet. II telescopes i'm
prove in power, and practiccd eyes improve
IN ability to discern. this Is the portion OF
Nep.une's course, " hen there will be pos.
sibihty Of making discoveries on his dis
can't disc. II may he only the suspicion OF
Q belt, Il may he only an additional satcl-
lite. for this IL the most that can be antici-
patcd from the obsery alton % an object that
when nearest Is $4,000. 200, 600 miles away.
An inhabitaui % this planet, stranded on
the Neptunian shore, would behold differ
snt conditions from those that prevail In
the cartb's more favored cline. The sun
would look like = bright day-star, the SIZE
Of Venus when largest, and his iliumina-
tisg effects would be lessencd thousand
times. All the other planets would be Ia
ferior or inner. and most Of them would
appear 10 recedc only few degrees from
the sun. Probably Uranus, Saturn. and
Jspittr may I've visible, but even the best
telescopes would scarcely pick up the re-
manning planets. so small and so near the
Sun. when viewed fIom this distant stand
point.
The great event In Ncptune's course in
November is his opposition with the sun.
witch takes place on The 18th at 2 O'Clock
IN the afternoon. He is then at his nearest
point 10 the earth, and Is seen in OPPOSE
ton or opposite to the sun, rising in the
east ~ the sun sets in The west. and pass
ins from The suns western side, where he
has played the part Of morning star. TO the
suns eastern side, where he will play the
part 81 evening star. The earth l. then
between him and the SIN, so that a S,raight
line drawn from the sun through the earth
sf..,. .I...l nngt
IL the four epOchs in the revolution Of
the SUPERIOR or outer planets he once
fxed in the memory. IL Will he compare
tively easy 10 follow them in their course.
These points are opposition quadraiurc
on The suns eastern side, conjunction, and
auadrature on the suns western side.
These aspects are nearly all illustrated
during the present month. Neptune IL
in opposition. Saturn il approaching Op-
position. Jupiter is in quadraiurc, Uranus
"a approaching quadrature. and Mars l. APP
proach hing conjunction. IL Il were possible
On the 18th TO take a birds-eye view OF the
solar system-which one can easily do IN
the minds eye--thc observer would behold
Neptune in line with the earth and the
sun: saturn near the same goal: Jupiter
poised half way between conjunction and
epposiiion: and Uranus. the least advanced
on the track. the four giant planets being
all assembled on the western side OF the
sun
Neptune is now In fine position for telH-
scopic observation. He may be found IN
the constellation Taurus, about 70 south
west ofkthe PleiadCs. telescope with an
aperture OF two inches viii bring him out
in favorable weather as small round disc.
n requires a much more powerful telescope
10 reveal his satellite. tiny point OF light
eieee to the primary. There are many
things TO interest observers concerning Tins
distant planet. ranking next in size to Ju-
pittr and Saturn. II we could approach
nearer 10 him. doubtless we should
behold grand spectacle. solve the
mysteries detected in his peculiar
spectrum. comprehend the laws that
regulate The apparently retrOgrade mo-
ton Of his solitary satellite, and-mOst
10 be desired Of all-find out il planets
hitherto unknown lie hidden IN remOter
REGIONS Of space. IL j. not improbable that
increased optical power will reveal some Of
these secrets from our present standpoint.
Mean while Neptune plods on in his slow
circuit Of 165 years, Obvious Of terrcs-
trial interest. and unconscious OF the exist
encc OF planet so large ana important In
the estimation OF the jewellers on the SUR
face. Even his existence as an acknOwl-
edged member Of the solar family dates
from 1916, only thrty eight years ago.
The right ascension Of Neptune on the
1st is 3h. 2lm., his declipatioD is l6o 30
north. his diameter Is 2<.G, and he is in
the constellation Taurus.
Neptune rises on the lst about hali-past
8 O'Clock in the evening: he sets on the
30th, soon altei hali-past 3 O'Clock in the
morning.
JUPITER Is morning star and passes an
imIoriant epoch in his course. On the
2Gtb. of 3 O'Clock in the morning. he is in
eusdrature with the sun on his western
side. He is then at the halfway house be-
tween conjunction and opposition. IS 90o
wCst of the sun, rises at midnieh. and sets
at noor-day. With telescopes OF small
power and under ordinary conditions, this
superb planet presents the appearance 81 Il
large. round disc. Higher magniiying
powers will show slight flattening at the
polls. Bu. only the best telescopes
in tie hands 81 the best observers
will reveal The magnificent belts with
their changing tints, and the spots
that from time to time appear and
dis ppcar on hi disc. Powerful telescopes,
too. will bring out the approach 0! the glib
hons phase when Jupiter Is in quldrature.
Al common times be, ~ well ~ the other
giant planets, appears like round orb, be-
cause of the great distance. An OlrCrya-
iiOn II the great planet in gibbons phase is
AN astronomical feat diilicrli TO accomplish.
Sometimes there v in be only 3 slight shade
on Tie limb farthcst from the sun. II l.
recorded that In the clear atmosphere o.
Southern Australia the second and third
satellite have been seen TO emerge al SEN
sihlc distance from the limb OF the r11nci
this proving The reality Of the gibbons
form.
Jupiter for six months to come will be
in most favorable condition FOR ob,crya-
ton. more so than will be the ease for SeVc-
raj succeeding years; for his path IN the
heavens now turns in sOutherly direction.
while the general law j.. the farther north
The planet is The more favorable is lt> posi-.
lion for observation.
.r,, 80. VI ascension of Jupiter on the Isl
!. 1Ob. isn't. .iS declnation l, II, -
north, hi. diameter Is p - ana be l. III
tbe constellation Leo.
Jupiter rises on the Ist not far from
O'Clock ~ tho morning; on the 3oth he
1ists few minutes after II o'clock in The
evening.
enliyens his IN notonous course during Tho
month. Hut he il beautiful TO behold a
ne wends his quiet way over the celes,ia
course. approaching the goal that has beer
already reached by his more distant brother
planet Neptune, and shining witha serencl'
brilliant light among his brother stars, tina
gives forclaste Of the phase he VIII pre-
sent, when. Il year hence, he combine
eyery condition from which the best view
may be anticipated. In the teleScOp
I've j. magnificent beyond deScriI
lion. We never behold him throug
u powerful glass without wishing that jus
once he could he seen in the same gran
proportions pictured on The sky. where u
the world might have view OF the SIN
psssing spectacle by simply turning III
eye towards the heavens.
The right ascension Of Saturn on the 4
il Oh. 32m.. hts declinatiOn is 2l' a
north. his diameter il tS'< =, and ne j.
the constellation Taurus.
Saturn rises on the lst. few minui
before half.past O'Clock ~ the evening
on the 30th he rises about hslf.past
O'Clock.
VENUS Is morning star. but no longer
The ascendant; for il is now her turn
hide her diminished rays" She is (,
ting every day nearer the stu, aud inerea
ing her distance from the earth. The
two facts may De easily verified by o
servers a. they note the lCSsening dlstau
between her and the sun, and the lessee
ing brilliance OF her disc. She j. almO
pluDging southwark in her swift carec