The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-30
PLANETS FOR APRIL.
SOMETHING FOR STARGAZERS
Celestial Bodies-The Coming Eclipse OF
the Moen.

ANIf ihNh VI oN<a no III luC Diuu-
cts are evening stars during the entire
month, we shall present first the outer plan
cts in the order OF their nearness TO the
sun on the lst Of the month and then the
inferior planets IN the same order. Nep-
tune enjoys the distinction OF leading the
outer brotherhood in being nearest to the
sun. He is also the only planet that is not
visible 10 the naked eye during some por-
ton Of the month. Neptune encounters
Mercury on the Dist, the conjunction oc-
curing at 2 O'Clock In the morning. when
both planets are safely below the horizon.
The former is moving westward towards
conjunction and the latter Is moving east
ward toward elongation. Travelling in
different directions, they must pass each
other-that is. as we see them from the
earth.
The right ascension Of Neptune on the
1st is 81. ON, his declination Is 15o So
north, and his diameter is 80.
Neptune sets on the LIST at half-past 8
O'Clock in the evening; on the 3Oth he sets
at half-past O'Clock.
SATURN Is evening star, and contributes
a charming incident to enliyen the monthly
routine. On the 18th, at II O'Clock in the
evening in conjunction with Venus, being
40 13/ south at the time of the nearest ap-
prOach. The two planets will then be be-
low the horizon, but they will be near
enough together in the early evening to
form lovely picture. Observers will have
no difficulty in recognizing the actors in
the celestial scene. Venus will be known
almost as readily as the moon, and a little
more than 40 south OF her beaming pres
ence 4 bright star of pale. golden hue,
serenely shining amid the tWinkling mys-
terirs around, will reveal the presence OF
saturn. Aldebaran will be about ~ south
Of Saturn, and the Pleiades will be less
than half a degree west Of Venus, planets,
star, and cluster combining as elements in
the starry picture Those who desire oc-
cuIar proof OF the conjunction will find
saturn east OF Venus on the evening
OF the 18th and west of Venus on the
evening Of the 18th. showing that the plan
cts have changed places. "Things are not
what they SEEM" for though Venus looks
| larger and brighter than Saturn, it would
take nearly nine hundred planets OF her
size TO equal III volume the grand dimen-
siOns Of the superb, ring-girdled planet.
The right ascension OF Saturn on the LIST
is All Ism, bis declination is 190 49, north,
and his diameter is 1872
Saturn sets on the LIST a few minutes be-
fore IL O'Clock in the evening; on the Both
he SEES few minutes after Q O'Clock
JUPITER is evening star, and takes his full
share in the varied events OF the month.
on the I4th. at o'clock in the evening,
he is in quadrature on the suns eastern
side. Rising at MONDAY, looking down
from zenith at O'Clock, and setting at mid
night, the princely planet is in one OF his
most superb aspects. He is even more ill.,
terestng than when at opposition; he rises
at 80 set and does not make his transit till
midnight, while his brilliancy is appa-
rently but little dimmed. He will be an
object fair TO see during the month, outri-
yalling every visible star in the broad con-
cave except Venus. to whom he is unwill-
ingly obliged TO yield the supremacy,
though he holds the Sceptre OF sovereignty
for about two hours after her setting.
| The right ascension OF Jupiter on the
lSt is IN. 47m., his declinatiOn is 20 AZ
north, and his diameter is BIS.
Jupiter sets on the LIST at half-paSt >
O'Clock in the morning; on the Both he
sets quarter before / O'Clock.
MARS is evening star, follows closely in
! Jupiter train, rising about three-quar-
ters Of an hour later and affordlng, by his
| proximity. a line study OF the contrast in
color and general appearance OF two OF
the major planets. The observer will also
notice how rapidly the ruddy hue is fading
| in Mar, and how quickly he will subside
into comparative lnsigniticance. The tele-
scopistS have been diligently observing
| this planet both before and since his Oppo-
| ,itiOn, but no noteworthy results have yet
| been recorded. Probably his tiny moons
have refused to appear under present I'M
favorable conditions, and Schiaparellps
Marian "canals" are hidden from sight
for the same reason.
The right ascension Of Mars on the lst is
| Sh. 3lm., his dCclination il 81 "a" north,
and his diameter is 9|.S.
Mars sets on the lst shortly after 3
O'Clock in the morning; on the Both he sets
about quarter before , O'Clock.
URANUS is evening star, the fifth OF the
outer planets in nearness to the sun, and
| the farthest south.
The right ascension OF Uranus on the LIST
is Ill., 44m. his decinatiOn is % So north,
and his diameter il 3".S.
Uranus sets on the LIST soon after ,
O'Clock IN the morning; on the Both, he
sets about a quarter after O'Clock.
MERCURY is evening star and is busy
member Of the solar community during the
month. He makes his appearance in po-
sition where he may easily be picked up by
painstaking observers. He not only
reaches his greatest eastern elOngatiOn, but
is far up in the north at the same time, and
! thus presents the most favorable conditions
for visibility as evening star that will occur
during the year.
Mercury reaches his eastern elOngatiOn,
or greatest distance from the sun, on the
| 18th. at . O'Clock in the evening, being
then 700 32/ east OF the sun. Al that
time. and for week before and after, be
| j. visible TO the naked eve. On the 10Th
he sets IN hour and three quarters after
the sun. Those who wish TO behold this
interesting planet about the time OF eon-
cation will find the Pleiades sure guide
to his position in the sky. They should
commence the quest three quarters OF AN
hour after sunset, about half-past
O'Clock, and first lind the Pleiades in the
northwest; then scan the heavens de-
gree and three quarters south OF the clus-
ter, and slight distance west. After pa
tient observation, the planet called by an
cient astronomers THE Sparkling One"
from the wonderful briliancy Of his light,
will suddenly flash into being, shining
with peculiar lustre in the glowing twi-
Hight. When once found the observer win
be surprised that he could fail IN his
search. and will be able to follow the plan
cts course until he draws so near the
sun as to be hidden in his light. Before
the 18th Mercury will be farther south,
and after the 18th farther north, for the
little planet moves with wondrous speed.
Astronomers Of the present day seem to
devote little attention to this member OF
the planetary family, his nearness to
the sun rendering him a very diff
cult object to observe with accu-
racy. The certainty that he revolyes
on his axis in twenty-iour hours, his lofty
moImtins. his dense atmosphere, his de-
| =. =. - - .....in..l firm dascrihod hu