Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-27
THROUGH THE TELESCOPE.
AsrupY or THg HEAVENS


incidents u c0Ivcu US fccorus iuesc tte
h,s inferior conjunction with the sun, bis
gtest western tiongation, and bis conlunc-
ton With Venus.
ON the "a, at 5 O'Clock IN the morning.
he Il IN inferior conjunction with the sun.
The smallest, the ewlftest, and the bright
eft Of the planets then passes between the
earth and the sun, making the passage
above the iuminary, and failing 70 give
actual proof OF the occurrence OF the event
in the form Of tiny black spot moving
rapidly over the suns shining face. For.
n the itme, he Is far away from either OF
nj, nodes, where only transits can occur.
nor win our eyes be eladdened BY the sight
al transit Of Mercury I'll 1891. The swift.
footed planet must pursue his appointed
be- ,s near one OF his nodes when his infe'
nor conjunction takes place. Under these
conditions alone will be be directly Ia line
with the sun and the earth, and he pro-
kcitd on the face OF the sun a. q black spot
20 small that good telescope Is required 70
reveal bis presence.
ON the 26tb. at O'Clock liz the morning.
Mercury reaches his greatest western
s,cpeaIiou. when he Is go 53/ west OF the
sun, He will be visible 10 the naked eye
AZ morning star at that time. and for week
before and after the elongation. Although
a, his present elongation be is ut nearly his
maximum distance from the SUI, his SOUTH
crn dac,ination Is unfavorab.e for OBSERVE
tion. He rises on the 10Th about an hour
and a quarter before the sun, and may be
hooked for 80 3p south Of the sunrise
pojnt. Fortunately for observers, the fair
est Of the stars Is In his near vicinity du-
ring a norton Of the time when he Is most
easily seen.
ON the cath. at 8 O'Clock In the morning.
Mercury and Venus are In conjunction,
Mercury being at that time 10 g. north,
distance little greater than twice the APP
p,rept diameter Of the sun. On the MORN
iue OF the conjunction the two planets
win rise nearly at the same time. lew
minutes before 6 O'Clock. Venus Is bril-
FAINT cuous b 10 be easily recognized in the
southeast, and not far 10 the north. Keen.
eyed observers will find the rose-tinted
planet go difficult 10 discover when Its
plsce IL not known. so Easy TO pick up when
one knows Just where 70 look. A
crisp winter morning, clear ana
cloudiess, and keen visual power,
with the aid Of good opera.
glass, will ensure success. Mercury and
Venus continue their companionship du.
ring the rest Of the month, rising on the last
day with only difference OF six minutes In
time. Their proximity is. however. only
apparent. In reality. Mercury is moving
westward towards elopgation, Venus Is
moving eastward towards superior conlunc-
ton. From our point Of view, only n small
piece OF sky separates them. This proves,
rs we have often saidsthat things are not
what they seem in the heavens above any
more than in the earth beneath.
Very little Is known about Mercury with
any degree Of certainty, Tor his nearness 10
the sun makes him difficult object for ac-
eurate observation. The period of his ro-
tation on bis axis, supposed to he about
twepty-iours. is not considered as beyond
question, neither is the position OF his axis
known. Schroeder. dIligent observer. at
the beginning OF the present century saw,
or thought he saw, when The planet was
IN crescent form. the alternate bunting
of the horns, some minute projections
from the limb, and an irregular curve OF the
terminator. He interpreted the phenomena
as the shadows of lofty mountains. and,
according TO his measurement, they were
twelve miles high. But the more expe-
rienctd observers Of the present day, with
their finer instruments, fail to confirm these
observations. Nothing Is considered
" proven" in regard TO the planets at
mosphere, his deviation from a spherical
form, or many other phenomena probably
due to the Imagination OF those who saw
through the glass daTklv,
more important problem Is now puz-
cling the brains Of astronomers. Lever
rier, after profound and exhaustive eXami-
nation OF records, announced that the peri
helion Of Mercury's orbit moves around the
sun more rapidly than can be explained by
the action Of the other known planets, the
aceeieration amounting 10 40'| In century.
The French astronomer searched diligently
for the cause, and finally concluded that II
was due TO an unknown planet or planets
revolving between Mercury and the sun.
lie died in this belief, aud in
confident expectation that one or
mere planets would he added TO
tie system. and the Mercurial per-
turbations be accounted for. The rebel
lious planet still refuses 10 come under the
rules. and the fact that the peribelion OF his
orbit moves round the sun faster than II
ought TO. Is now considered as established.
The cause Of the anomaly has not yet been
detected. No predetermined Vulcan, no
unnamed planets, no group OF asteroids.
have ever made transits over the sun
and restored harmony to the system.
Unskiiled observers in most Instances
have seen little bodies crossing
the sun that had the appearance
Of planets. Their observations, however,
have not been confirmed by observers who
for fifty years have never allowed fair day
to pass without scanning or mapping the
suns face. The transit Of planet no big.
ger than pins point would not escape
their vigilant watch. During total eclipses
tiny stars have been noted that IL was
hoped would prove to be the much
desired irtra- Mercurial planets. But
the prepOnderaDce OF evidence Is against
the existence OF the unseen wan
dtrers, and the problem remains as com.
ple.ely unsolyed as il did when the dis
crepancy was first discovered. The best
observers with the finest instruments
and the most favorable opportunities have
thus far found no clue. Mercury defes the
host of terrestrial astronomers and mathe-
maiicians, and spins on his way, his perl
helion point advancing with acceleratlng
spctd, in n fashion incomprchensible to
those rest yorsed in the laws that hold in
place the sun aud his family Of worlds.
The probability is strong that the science
OF astronomy from It's present standpoint
has no means az command TO solve the ques-
ton. The astronomy OF the future will
show the way.
The right ascension Of Mercury on the
lat Is i9h. IGm., bis dccIination Is 300 "a
south. his diameter is 9'.6, and he Is in the
constellation Sagittarlus.
Mercury sets on the 1st soon after
O'Clock in the evening. On the 3lst he
rises about O'Clock In the morning.
VENUS Is morning star during the MONTH
She IL slowly approaching the sun and heI
superior conjunction, which does not oc'
cur until May. She is still very beautiful
IN the morning ky, as any one may see FOL
himself who commands view OF the south
eastern horizon and makes an observation
an hour before SUNRISE. She contributes
an interesting incident 10 the planetary an
nails Of the month by her conjunction witt
Mercury on the cath, when she acts a
guide for those who desire glimpse OF thu
sparkling planet, who, however, will moi
deign TO show his free unless atmospheric
and cloud conditions are the very best.
The right ascension OF Venus on the first
IL 16b. 49m., her declinatlon is 200 SO
south. her diameter Is l2>/.4 and she may
be found In the constellation Scorpio.
Venus rises on the first at a quart, aitei
o O'Clock in'the morning; on the 3lst she
rises a, o O'Clock.
Jupiter Is morning star during the month
Althoue b thus ranked In astronomical calcli.
latlon. be Il near enough 10 opposition Il
be q superb object In the evening sky, being
visible nearly the entire night. lie row
makes his apDfaranee abOye fine eaSfpru