, 1884-01-12
Aspects Of the Planets far J.,,,rx

'upiter Is morning star until the 10Th, and
then evening star until the 9TH of August
lhere is no question as to which star shall
head the Inst during January, for Jupiter
puts on his proudest aspect on the 10Th,
when he reaches opposition. This event
occurs at 10 O'Clock in the evening, when
the regal planet will be well toward the
zenith, and can be seen in his best estate
IhonSh Jupiter never shines with the be-
wItching brightness tina. distinguishes Venus
III her period Of greatest brilliancy, he en-
Joys a great advantage over his fair rival
Since he Is an outer planet, be may be seen
at opposition, opposite the sun, rising about
sunset, and making his transit, or meridian
passage, at midnight. Since Venus is an in.
ner planet, she is never seen much more than
10 from the sun, either three hours after
sunset or three hours before e'sunrise. Jupiter
seems to make the circuit Of the sky. Venus
seems to oscillate in straight lines east and
west OF the sun as if she were fastened 70
HIM by an invisible chain. In reality, both
planets revolve around the sun the same as
the earth. The different aspects they take
on are simply the way they look to terres-
tlal observers, the giant planet travelling
outside OF our domain, the fairest Of the
planets travelling within our boundaries.
We never look upon Jupiter when in op
position without rejoicing that whea the vast
nebulous mass that once fillei and extended
far beyond the limits Of the solar system
quIckened into life, and threw off the con-
centric rings that formed the planets. the
largest rings condensed into the planet Ju-
piter. Observers On the other planets are
for this reason privileged to behold the mag
ui6cent spectacle Of a planet second only to
the great sun himself. miniature solar sys
tenn with its revolving moons, a telescope
wonder on which the eye rests with ever
new delight
The huge planet has rot yet cooled down,
his priueval fires still blaze, and he gives
out light and heat to the satellites that sur
round him, and as readily yield to his SOY
ereign power as their mighty lord bows to
the suns resistless sway. Observers OH this
planet, nearly 500 million miles away can
watch the process of world making on Jupi-
ters mighty mass. Exceeding the earth in
volume 300 times, his cooling will be pro-
p rtionately slow.
In the belts that diversity his disk, in the
huge spots that from time TO time stir his
mass, in the agitation of the immense cloud
atmosphere that conceals his fiery nucleps,
We behold on grand scale the progress of
the cooling process which millions of years
ago sgltated the earths lesser bulk before it
developed to the perfection Of its present
condition as an abode for animate life. Just
rs surely viii the prince Of planets reach,
latest OK all the suns family, the same per
feetion of development Whom, millions OF
ages hence, the time arrives, the earth, like
the moon, viii have passed into the period
of inevitable decay, and, preceded by Mer-
cary. Mars. ami perha )s Venus, VIII be float
irg thc,ugh space as a dead world. Viewed
III tins Il snt. every changing belt, every new
spot, every sadden rift is revelation in
Jovlan language of the tremendous disturb
ances thst viii eventually bring order oGt OF
chaos, beauty ont of desolation.
Tie red spot and the bright spot have not
actually disappeared, although as the planet
spei on its course away from the earth no
traces of them were seen later than May.
As the planet again approached us after CON
junction, Mr. Denning found on the morn
ing Of the 9th of O-to5er that the red spot
was again visible, although very faint. AT
times the shape Of the spot came out DIS
tinctIy. notwithstanding its feebleness, while
the indentation or hollow IN the great south
belt near the spot Is very conspicuous
tigure. Later, on the same morning. Mr..
Denning saw the equatorial white spot as 1t
crossed the central meridian Of Jupiter. 1t
was very bright and seemed TO preserve the
conspicuous appearance it presented In iSso.
Observers will therefore have an object IN
the telescope study OF Jupiter besides the
enjoyment of the brilliant spectacle. Ihe
red spot, the white spot. the intensity OF the
coIor;p,, in the belts, all have meaning.
Fortunate is he who can decipher 1t
High up in the north. at his nearest point
=, the earth. above the horizon the entire
night, the brightest OF the swarming stars
that adorn the crown Of night-such is Ju-
piter at opposition, and superbly VIII re
shine during the crisp and clear mooniess
nights Of January.
Our Wheat.