Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1884-08-30
SEPTEMBER.s STARRY
The Display Of Planets for the Comins
Month.

Ane Dfsptay VI FhAness hof sne &csniss&
Month.
From the Providence Journal.
Venus is morning star. II the place Of honor
is due to SURPRISING beauty Of appearance, We
nus easily wins the proud position. For thus
far, she shows but faint signs of the decrease In
size and brlliancy to which she must inevitably
yield as the less favored members Of the solar
family. She continues to travel westward,
lengthening out the invisible chain that binds
her to the sun, until the 2lst, when she can go
no farther. On that day, at Z o'clock In the
morning. she reaches her greatest western elon-
CATION. and Is then 40 G. west OF the sun. Here
she changes her course approaching the sun
with slower step than she receded from him.
Although she will be morning star during the
rest OF the year. her luster will gradually grow
dim as she draws near the SUM- until it is en-
tirely obscured in his bright beams
Jupiter Is morning star. His near neighbor-
hood to Venus at the close ofthe month entities
him to place next to her on the planetary re-
cord. Though late conner among the morning
stars, he is far enough from the sun to be easily
visible, rising now an hour and half before his
great prototype and two hours after Venus
VINO looms ABOVE the eastern horizon at 3
O'Clock. The king and queen of the stars will
rapidly approach each other on the celestial road
during the month. On the 18th, they are only
one hour apart. and at the close of the month
they are only separated by the short space OF
fifteen minutes Planetary astronomy presents
few more interesting scenes than the one that
pictures Jupiter and Venus. the leaders Of the
| starry host, as they approach conjunction. The
september morning sky will be respondent with
this exhibition. The fairest gem Of the suns fam
lily OF worlds, raises her beaming face above the
eastern hills shining with briiliancy on the dark
background Of the sky For time she reigns
alone, and then the princely Jupiter appears to
dispute her sway, the interval between the
rivals decreasing with each succeeding appear
ance. The exhibition takes places on the east
ern sky, commencing about 2 o'clock In the
morning, and continuing till the stars pale In
the glow OF the coming day.
Saturn Is morning star and outranks the other
planets in the important materials he affords for
study. Not only is he beautiful object In the
sky during almost the entire night. but he is
also approaching the earth under favorable con-
ditions seldom surpassed i'm his long career On
the 10th. at ten O'Clock in the morning he is I'm
quadrature with the sun on his western side
He is then 80 degrees distant from the sun, at.
what may be called, the halfway house between
conjunction and opposition, and Is in fine posi-
ton for observation both with the naked eve
and the telescope. He is also conveniently Sit
uated for this purpose rising now at half-past IL
o'clock In the evening. and, at the end Of the
month, making bis appearance at halfpast 9
o'clock.
A peculiar interest is felt in the approach of
the ring-girdled planet to the earth at the
present time, for intricate questions are to be
studied connected with his complicated system.
We say studied" for Saturn must roll round in
his vast circuit many times before these Ques-
tons Will find satisfactory answers. The mag
nlficent member Of the planetary brotherhood is
drawing near the terrestrial domain under con-
dltions that will not be exactly repeated until the
present generation of astronomers has given
place to the one that will succeed. For though
astronomers as q class are distinguished for
longevity. of 2S ha
length OF their highest power Of observation,
while nearly ~ years must pass before Saturn
presents the same advantageous position he
now holds. During this year, and the next, the
finest telescope views Of Saturn and his rings
may be obtained in northern ATTITUDES. For,
during this time, he passes his perihelion,
reaches his greatest northern decllnation and
his rings are open to their widest extent these
events occurring before the year 1885 closes
There is a noteworthy analogy between the
solar system and the Saturnian system. The
sun is surrounded by eight planets and q ring
OF asteroids. Saturn is surrounded by eight
moons, and ring resembling In some Of its
features the zone Of asteroids
Uranus is evening star until the goth, when
he becomes morning star. On the Goth at 10
o'clock in the evening. he is In conjunction with
the sun. The four great planets are then on
the suns western side, and are all shining as
morning stars. Neptune and Saturn have
passed quadrature and are more than halfway
ing towards quadrature and Uranus is Just COM
mencing his course towards the same goal
Mercury Is evening star until the 10Th, when
he joins the ranks Of the morning stars. On
the 18th, at 10 o'clock in the morning he is In
inferior conjunction with the sun passing to his
western side and increasing the number Of MORN
ing stars to five In the following order of dis
lance from the sun. Neptune heads the roll
followed by Saturn Venus, Jupiter and Mer-
| curry. After the Goth Uranus increases the
RI CT fh,,c
ception, Is on the suns western side.
Neptune is morning star and the leader Of the
shining brotherhood. He is of little Importance
| now In his far of quarters. but we have faith
that some time in the distant future he will point
the way to wOrt or worlds living beyond his
sphere. Meantime his slow steps as he travels
On his mighty circuit must be carefully followed
by those who would detect the secrets held
within his grasp.
Mars is evening star. and the sole representa-
tive OF the fraternity in that role. He is mov-
ing slowly towards conjunction but we must
wait till 1856 for another opposition At this
epoch, and for a month before and after. the
ruddy planet will take on an imposing aspect.
THE MOON.
The September moon ftllls on the 5th at Sc
minutes alter o'clock in the morning, standard
time. On the 10th the moon is in conjunction
with Neptune; on the 12th with Saturn; on the
18th, with Venus; on the 10th. with Jupiter: on
the lJtn. with Mercury and Uranus; and on the
22d with Mars. No planet is occulted by the
moon in September in any part Of the globe. but
some favored mortas may see her pass over
Adebaran on the 10th, and observers here will
see her in his vicinity.
THE HARVEST MOON.
One of the most charming of lunar phenomena
will occur during the first autumnal month,
when, after the full, the moon will rise for four
consecutive evenings with an average interval
OF only 35 minutes between the risings. We
may not think with the agriculturists OF old that
by mercifui interposition of Providence the
day is thus prolonged to help the husbandman
in his labor. But We may be equally grateful
for the beauty Of the scene, when floods of
silyery moonlight quickly succeed the short
September twilight. and show the artistic skill
of our satellite In producing effects of light and
shade that no human pencil can reproduce in
its perfection of restfulness, softness and seren-
ity, SO deliciously harmonizing with natures
great harvest festival.
Saturday Smiles.
Sir Lepel Griffin sneers at the Washington
monument. N. B.-The monument can stand
it.-BOStOn Post.
The act of an Omaha printer in setting fire to
newspaper office is very properly headllned as
"a typographical error. Indianapolis Journal