St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-12-04
DELLMBEK sKIEs.
The stellar Display FOR the Closing Year.
IPrnYince journal

The stellar Display FOR the Closing Year.
Province Journal
Saturn is a morning star until the 18th,
when he takes ON a new role according to
astronomical classification. Whatever may
be the position of a superior planet, he is
classed as morning star from conjunction to
opposition, and as evening star from opposi-
ton to ouiunction. Though Saturn has
been a prominen: object in the evening sky
for the last two months, he has for this reas-
o. been numbered among the morning stars
The great epoch in his course that transfers
him from one side Of the sun to the other oc-
ours during the month, and as this is the
most interesting period in bis circuit round
the sun to jewellers on the earth, our ring
girdled neighbor easily wins the place of hon.
or on the December planetary annals. The
much desired epoch occurs on the 18th, at 2
O'Clock IN the morning. When the sun
sinks below the western horizon, this beam
ing planet shows his radent face above the
eastern horizon aud shines during the en-
tire night, descending in the west as the
great luminary appears in the east. Saturn
may be easily recognized among his starry
ne ghbors, being nearly east Of the Pleiades,
aud about half way between Capelia on the
north and Betilguese on the south. He
shines with serene light entirely different
from that Of the twinkiing stars. He rises
on the LIST at a quarter after 5 O'Clock in the
evening. and is the only visible planet In the
heavens until Jupiter appears upon the scene
Tue teiescopic Saturn Is now the personifiea-
ton of grandeur and sublimity. Even in a
small instrument the picture is one of sur
passing beauty.
Il have seen the planet single and now
see il double,' was GallileO's wondering ex-
c.amation as he turned his imperfect instru-
ment TO the heavens in the dawn Of the as
Economical day. Forty years passed before
the strange appcndages, sometimes visible
and sometimes invisible, were proved TO be
the rings Of Saturn. With our finer instru-
mrnts aud the Good of knowledge poured
forth from observation and research, we have
still 10 thank the pioneer astronomers for the
first fruits OF this ennobling science, and for
a devotion 10 the cause that cost them oblo-
guy, Imprisonment and even martyrdOm. a
very powerful glass Is required to bring out
both the magnificent and the delicate aspects
of the most charming telescope object in the
heavens. as well as The brilliancy OF coioring,
which is g grand feature in the SAturnian
system.
Uranus is morning star. His course dur
ing the month is marked with an event, and
for this reason be wins the second place on
the planetary record. On the I4th, at .
O'Clock in the afternoon, be is in quadrature
W tn the sun, on his western side, half his
course from conjunction to opposition being
then completed
Mercury is evening star. He reaches his
greatest eastern elongatiOn on the 18th at Z
O'Clock in the evening, and is then 20 de-
grees Is minutes east Of the sun. He may
be seen at that time with the naked eve. II
the atmosphere be eleaI aud the sky cloud
less. His great southern dcclinasion will
make him difficult object to pick up. OBJ
Servers inclined TO try must look for him on
the 18th, and few days befoJe aud after,
about one degree south OF the sunset point, in
the constellation SagiiIarius short distance
northeast OF the inverted dipp-r
Mars is evening star. and rs well as Sat
urn, Uranus and Mercury contributes 10 the
incidents of the month. His plta lies il
close proximity 10 that OF Mercury during
the whole month, so that the two planets
are twice in conjunction. The first conjunc-
ton occurs on the 4th, at IL O'Clock in the
evening when Mercury is degree 90 min
utes south of Mars. The second coujunc-
Mercury is2 degrees 25 minutes north OF
Mars. The events are noteworthy simply as
interesting planetary aspects, for both plan
cts are too near the sun 10 be visible.
Jupiter is morning star throughout the
mouth, growing in interest as he draws
nearer 70 the earth. he rises now an hour
before midnight, and. when the month
closes, be will m axe his appearance above
the eastern horizon at o'clock in the even
ing. He is still in the neighbOrho cd of Reg
illus, few degrees east. The brilliant planet
and the first magnitude star afford fine op-
porturity for 8, Studying the contrast betw cen
planet ana star. Jupite Is superb. aud is
Increasing in size and brilliancy in Decem-
her. After he appears upon the scene be
/, Odds the seeptre Of sovereignty with power
hat the brightest star OF the myriad host may
not dispute. Even Saturn, beaming mildly
from the heights above him, treads the ceIes-
tial pathway with becoming humility in the
presen ce of bis more powerful brother Ju-
piter is almost alone in his present position
He has left behind him the grand galaxy of
stab. among whiclS for the two previous
yearsshe made his shining way, and Regulus
is his sole bright companion.
Ven us is morning star. She Is still q
charming object in the eastern sky for two