The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-02-09

/, with him. OpposttIons OF MARS occur |.
this average interval, and can be easily cal
culated. The present opposition occurred
1 on the 1st Of February, 1884. Tne tnres
succeeding In March, 1886; April, 1855
MAY. 1890, when will follow the much DC
sired opposition Of 1902.
! The right ascension OF Mars on the Isl
was Oh. 2m., his declInation Is 2l' "
north, and his diameter is 15>/.
Mars sets on the LIST about half-past
O'Clock In the morning; on the 10th he sets
at quarter after O'Clock.
URANUS Is morning star, and pursues
his course without any incident worth re-
cording.
The right ascension OF Uranus on the
1st was f1h. sam. Declination Is 10 ~
north, aud bis diameter Is 3".S.
Uranus rose on the LIST about O'Clock
in the evening; on the 10Th he rises about
O'Clock.
VENUS Il evening star, and by far the
Ioyeliest OF the brilliant quartette OF planets
that shed their radiance on the winter
nights. She holds q charm that surpasses
the majestic bearing Of Jupiter, the war.
like aspect OF Mars and the serene light OF
Saturn. She is also increasing In radi-
ance, while they have passed their cul-
mination though the diminishing lustre
win hardly be discernible during
the month. Observers who watched
her eastward progress during JAN
uary did not fail to admire her bewitch-
ing grace In the glow OF twilight,
her presence being revealed almost as soon
as the sun had sunk below the horizon.
Sometimes she hung tremulous on the dark
edge Of sunset clouds, shining through the
riffs that revealed the sky, and sometimes
she challenged admiration in twilight Of
golden glow. But she was surprisingly
lovely when her light Of pure gold was
seen in the crimson afterglow that lit up
the western sky on some OF the unaccount-
bly, beautiful sunsets that have shed a
glory not Of earth upon the path Of the
departing sun.
Venus is moving rapidly nortbward,
reaching northern dcclination on the 18th,
and at the end OF the month being lao
north Of the sunset point. This north
ward progress is easily discernible, and
brings her into more favorable position
for observation.
The right ascension OF Venus on the LIST
was 23h. ON. Declination is 70 10/ south,
and her diameter is 12".S.
Venus set on the LIST not far from
O'Clock in the evening; on the 10Th she
sets about o O'Clock.
MERCURY is morning star throughout the
month. He reaches bis greatest western
on the 18th at II O'Clock in the
evening, and Is then 26o 12/ west Of the
sun. At that time and for week before
md after he would be fayorably situated
Tor observation as morning star il it were
not for his great southern declination.
Sharp eyes may pick him up about an hour
before sunrise, for he rises nearly an hour
md three quarters before the sun at elonga-
ion. He must be looked for degree and
| half south Of the sunrise point in the con-
ISOLATION Capricornus. The atmosphere
must be exceptionally clear to lure him
rom his hlding-place.
The right ascension of Mercury on the
LIST was lob. 30m. Declination is 10o II
,Outh, and his diameter is 81 a.
Mercury rose ON the list not far from
o'clock in the morning; Oh the 29th he
Uses also about O'Clock
THE MOON.
The February moon fulls on the 10th at
minutes after IL O'Clock in the |
'yening, standard time. AS she swings
Ter ponderous globe between us and the |
planets she first draws near Neptune on |
he 4th, the day OF her first quarter. pass
ng IL south. She next approaches Saturn |
IN the 5th, passing 10 49, south. On the |
th she is near Jupiter, on the. 10th near |
liars, on the 18th near Uranus, and on the !
4th near Mercury. On the Goth the |
moon is near Venus, pass
ne 32' south. Unfortunately the con-
JUNCTION takes place at seven minutes after |
0 O'Clock in the morning. When crescent |
nd star become visible in the evening sky |
hey will not be near enough together 10
make their most brilliant impression on the
We OF the spectator.