The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-05-04
THE TELESCOPE.
THE HEA VEINS IN MAY.
Movements and Positions or she Priuei-
pol Heavenly Bodies = Something for the

on the suns eastern side, crosses to his
western side and becomes morning star
This event occurs on the 10th, at 10 o'clock
In the evening, and is called his conjunc-
ton with the sun. 1t is one Of the four
important epochs In his course which are
conjunction followed by quadrature on the
suns western side, opposition, and quad
nature on the suns eastern side. Neptune
ut conjunction is 1883 million miles from
the earth, so that he Is not very near
neighbor. He Is apparently close to the
sun at this time, rising and setting with
him, completely hidden in his rays, and
entirely beyond the reach OF the most pow.
eriul telescope.
Neptune will be a pleasant planet to
dwell in, on some accounts, when in the
progress Of ages be becomes fit for the
abode OF animate life. All the other planets
are inferior or inner as viewed from his
surface, and will seem to move in straight
lines east and west OF the sun as Venus
and Mercury move In our sky. But II the
Neptuuians have eyes like ours, they will
only he able to see Uranus, Saturn, Jupi-
ter. and perhaps Mars. Their best tele-
scopes, II like ours, will hardly pick up the
earth, and our beautiful Venus and fleet
footed Mercury will be forever unknown.
All the planets will make transits. but
the sun is so small and the planet
far away that transits will be rare.
1t is calculated that Uranus will
make q transit not oftener than once
In forty thousand years. The sun in
the Uranian sky is but brilliant day star,
no larger than Venus, when nearest to the
earth. His illuminating power is but one
| thousanth part OF that enjoyed by the
| earth, about midway between our sunlight
and moonlight. Planets beyond our ken,
however, may shine in the Neptunian sky,
and the inhabitants will have q base line
| thirty times larger than ours for measuring
the distance OF the fixed stars. On the
whole, the temptation to migrate to Nep-
tune is not alluring. The earth with her
glorious sun, her solitary moon, the six
brother planets visible in her sky, her
favorable position IN the system. and her
perfection Of development, affords all that
can be desired as a dwelling-place, and
few OF the jewellers on her surface mani
fest any desire to leave the pleasant abode.
The right ascension OF Neptune on the
lst is 3h. lam, his declinatiOn is 160 81
north, and his diameter is 2.//5.
Neptune sets on the 1st at 7:30 O'Clock
in the evening; on the 31st he rises about
$3.50 O'Clock in the morning.
SATURN is evening star, and among the
outer planets ranks second in the time OF
setting. He does nothing worthy Of note
during the month. but moves serenely on
his course, surrounded by bright galaxy
OF stars. and ready at the end OF the month
to make his bow to the evening stars,
whom he Will soon desert to commence his
reign among the suns bright harbingers.
The right ascension OF Saturn on the lst
is Alb. 32m., his declination ls 200 25>, and
his diameter is 1878.
Saturn sets on the LIST a few minutes after
0 O'Clock in the evening; on the 3lst he
sets at 1870 O'Clock.
JUPITER is evening star and is not an ac-
tive member OF the fraternity during the
month. He is cOntented with looking his
best. and treadng his starry path with
stately step as he descendS slowly to the
west, and draws nearer, like the other SUI
periOr planets, to the sun. Jupiter Is near
enough to Venus to bring out the fine con-
trast in coloring and brilliancy between the
two planets.
The right ascension of Jupiter on the
1st is III. 57m.. his declination Is 90 30
north, and his diameter Is 34."4.
| UuJlltl StlS Ou lIlt leJ dbOub u udlt uVul
after midnight; on the 31st he sets about
IL O'Clock in the evening.
MARS is evening star, the fourth OF tho
outer planets in order from the sun, and
contributes two incidents TO enlyen the
planetary routine during the month. On
the 9Th. at midnight, Mars is in quadra-
ture with the sun, following Neptune,
Saturn, and Jupiter. and preceding Uranus
in arriving at this goal in his course. He
then takes his turn in looking down from
the meridian at O'Clock and setting at
midnight.
On the 3lst at II o'clock in the morning.
Mars is in conjunction with Regulus or
Alpha LeoniS, the bright star in the handle
OF the Sickle, the planet being So north OF
the star. As this star is situated very near
the eciptic or suns path, it often encOun-
tiers the planets. The conjunction or near
est approach OF the bright actors in the
celestial drama will not be seen, but planet
and star will be near together on the eve
ming OF the Both, and will be found
to have changed places on the eve
ming OF the 3lSt. The conjunction Of
a planet and firSt-magnitude star is
ALWAYS interesting, and so Is their grad
ual approach. which may be watched
during the month. The principal actors
are easily found. Jupiter will act as guide,
and will not need to be pointed out, for
he ranks next to Venus, and is not far 10
the southeast OF her. Mars is the red
planet southeast OF Jupiter, and Reguus
the yellow star east OF Mars.
The right ascension OF Mars on the 1't
Is Oh. 0m.. his declination is lSo 32 north.
| and his diameter l. 81.
Mars sets on the LIST ut 1880 O'Clock IN
.he morning; on the 3lst, he sets soon
after midnight.
| URANUS is evening star, and pl0dS on IN
his slow course in the constellation Virgo,
far removed from his brother planets at
present, though some OF them will over
take and pass him before the year closes.
The right ascension of Uranus on the 1st
is lib, 40m., his declination Is % 81 north,
and his diameter Is gu.
Uranus sets on the lst at ten minutes
after 3 o'clock in the morning; on the 3lst
he sets a few minutes after l O'Clock.
VENUS is evening star, and is farest and
brightest OF the shining brotherhood. An
important event occurs in her annual cir
cuit. On the I'd, at 5 O'Clock in the eve
ming, she reaches her greatest eastern elon-
cation. when she IL 45o 33/ east OF the sun.
Not second farther can she 20. The in
visible chain that binds her to the sun
has reached its limit. The fair planet
rests from her labors and stands still in
her course, as il conscious OF Der sur
passlDg loneliness, and wiling that OBJ
serTers on this planet should have
chance TO admire the fascinating grace
of her presence. But she remains not
long inactive. She turns her course and
approaches the sun or retrogrades at far
more rapid pace than she receded from
him. Any observer can see this for him.
self. for the westward movement or ap-
proach to the sun is easily traced from
night TO night as she threads her way
o-..o. ,Lo staro TbiS che will do until