The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-03-02

fore Herscheps discovery. Lemonuier
came nearer to winning the prize. for he
had observed the planet twelve times, ma
King several observations within o few
weeks in 176S-'60. II he had taken the
trouble 10 reduce aud compare his opser-
yations he might have won the prize twelve
years previous. But he bad no system IN
his arrangements, and bis papers are said
10 have been very picture OF chaos. An
intricate observation OF this very star was
recorded on paper-bag that had contain
ed perfumcd hair-powder.
Every one interested In the movements
Of the planets should try to find Uranus NJ
opposition as he appears to the naked eye,
as well "a to get peep at him IN the teie-
scope. 1t Is easy to keep the run OF MS
oppositions, for they occur about Tour ana
a half days lator each year. Thus tne OPP
position this year is on the 10Th OF march
next year II will be on the list OF March,
and so on.
THE right ascension OF Uranus on the
1st Ia Ilh, 49m., his decltnation u - z
north, and his diameter Is 30.
Uranus rises on the LIST at O'Clock IN
the evening; on the 3lst he sets AZ quar-
ter after 5 O'Clock In the morning.
VENUS is evening star, and is during I'VE
month radiant representative oil the solar
fraternity. She seldom presents more
favorable conditions for observation. she
Is moving rapidly northward, approaching
the earth. approaching her eastern elonga.
ton, and remaining longer every nignt
above the horizon after the sun has set,
speeding away from the great lumlnary on
| the invisible wire on which she seems 10 De
strung like q golden bead. On the 2Ith, at
Q O'Clock in the evening, she is in conlunc-
ton with Neptune, as we have already DC
scribed. Venus seen through the telescope
presents the phase Of the gibbous moon
when passing from the full to the last
quarter. There arc three points 10 De
noted in regard to Venus during the
month-her rapid progress northward. her
progress eastward, and her long stay above
| the horizon after sunset. These are easily
discernible to the unscientific observer,
and are all due to her apparent progress In
her orbit as she advances from superior
conjunction to eastern elongation. We can
find no new words TO express the bewitch-
ing charm OF her appearance as night after
night she sits enthroned amid the sunset
glow, or beams more brightly later in the
evening from the dark background OF the
sky, amid the swarming myriads OF stars.
The right ascension OF Venus on the LIST
I Is In. 1om., her declinatlon 70 AZ north,
aud her diameter is 1875.
| Venus sets on the 1St about o'clock in
the evening; on the 3lst she sets few
minutes after 10 O'Clock.
MERCURY is morning star, and after the
10th the sole planet enjoying this distinc-
ton. He retains the honor only till the
10th, Gecoming evening star, so that the
month closes with every one OF our broth
er-planets congregated on the eastern side
of the sun. On the S0th, at O'Clock In
the afternoon, Mercury is in superior con-
junction with the sun, passing from his
western to his eastern side in his fleet
footed circuit.
The right ascension Of Mercury on the
ist is 9Th. 36m.; his decIination is l6' lO>
south, and his diameter is $40.
Mercury rises on the 1st few minutes
before 6 O'Clock in the morning.; on the
31st he sets about half-past 6 O'Clock in the
evening.