Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1884-10-02

an opportunity of witnessing almost aB good
a one here on the 10th OF next March, when
the dark body of the Moon will hide from us
a portionof thesolar disc embracing 52100ths
Of its diameter.
The total eclipse of the Moon begins on
the afternoon of the 4th, more than two
hours before the lunar disc will rise in this
longitude. The Moon enters the Earth's
shadow at S.15 p. NJ; totality begins at 4.15;
the middle Of the eclipse will be at sol
totality ends, 5.48; Moon leaves shadow at
$40. As the Moon will rise here on that
evening about 5,97, we shall have chance to
see the latter portion of the eclipse.
The phases OF the Moon for the coming
month are: Full Moon, 9TH, A. sop. m. last quar-
tel, 18th, o. 80 a. m; new Moon, 18th, 81 p M;
first quarter, 26th, 11.54 p. m. The Moon
will be in conjunction with Neptune on the
evening OF the 7th; with Saturn ON the after |
noon of the 9th; with Jupiter on the morn |
ng of the 14th; with Venus on the morn |
ing of the 10Th; with Uranus on the evening |
Of the. 10th; with Mercury on the evening of |
the 18th, and with Mars on the morning Of |
Dist None OF these conjunctions will BIO
very close and there will be no occultations
during October especially worth observing,
with the possible exception of that Of Beta
Capricorni at 9.27 p. m. Of the 26th.
Apropos of the Moon, the following yarn
is now going the rounds
NEW YORK, Sept. ga letter from Berlin
10 prominent gentleman OF this city con-
tains q very interesting communication con.
corning the alleged discoveries of DR.. Blend
mann, professor in the Royal Academy of
Berlin, OF evidences that the Moon is in.
habited, DIR. Blendmann Processes to have
discovered that the telescope observations
made up to the present time have given q
| negative result on account OF the excessive
| light that irradiates from the lunar disk,
which prevents an exact examination OF the
/ surface. DIR. Blendmann softened the
| light by using the condensed smoke
| Of camphor. He had to make hundreds
of trials before finding the exact measure
\ Of softening required to obtain perfect
image Of the Moon. He then took with a re-
| tlecting telescope a very detailed and correct
Photographic view of the disc OF the Moon,
| which be afterward exposed under powerful
solar microscope. The circle obtained in the
photograph had in the microscope an APP
parent diameter Of over 80 feet. In this way,
the story is, he was able to perceive that what
had been believed to be seas are really regions
covered with rich vegetation, and what have
always been taken for mountainous regions
are deserts and seas, One can see, the letter
says with striking distinctness cities, towns
and villages, and there are strong indications
| of industry and commerce. With full moon
DIR. Blendmann has obtained Photographic
views so distinct that they indicate that il
larger telescopes could be used the discovery
would be still more completely confirmed.
II would be unfair to pr. Blendmann, il
there be a selenographer of that name, to hold
him responsible for the manifest inaccuracies
Of this telegram such as 'what had been
believed to be seas, &c." That excessive light
prevents an exact examination of the lunar
surface will also hardly be credited by those
who have studied the Moon with good tele-
scope and have frequently had occasion to
admire the marvellous delicacy Of definition
obtainable on fine night 1t is not too much
to cay that, throwing cities and towns out Of
the question, if single isolated building OF
the dimensions of the capitol at Washington
existed on that side Of the moon always
turned towards us it would have been dis.
! covered long ago. The Earl OF RosRe has
stated that with his mammoth rejecting
a telescope it is possible to see on the lunal
a surface objects as small as 60 feet in diane
1
ter.
The new comet recently discovered by DIR
= Wolf ID frightening, but whether it vii
% become visible to the naked eye is doubtful
From the position given in the Harvard Gil
10 cular it is now degree or two to the south
8, ward Of little star mapped as sc" ON th
In western border of Pegasus, and is movin
IN southwards towards Epsilon Pegasi. Tn
part Of the sky ia about Que. third of the wa
southwark from the zenith at o'clock in tn
evening.
Mercury is now morning planet and wi
VI reach his greatest western elongation, L
5Sm., on the morning Of the 9Th. He is nc
or however, favorably placed for naked eye o.
a servers. After that date he will again tut
90 towards the Sun and continue diminishiI
his apparent distance from that lumina
10 until November 4th, when he passes superb
conjunction and becomes again an evenii
planet.
Venus having passed her western elong
ton, is now approaching the Sun, but is st
op bright enough to be visible to the unaid
m eye in full daylight ; the chief diflicul
,u- being to look exactly in the right place
in the little silvery point of light. As Ven
IRA moves towards the Sun she will be met on t
he morning of the 9th by Jupiter, which
an. travelling in the opposite direction. and
two planets will pass each other at ~ 16n
distance, at a. m. Their place OF meeti
ua- will be near Regulus the brightest star
i'd the Lion, which Jupiter will pass at
lance of 10 minutes to the northward, on
ind about the morning of the 9Th, and Venus
OF GS minutes to the southwark on the morni
aso OF the It'll.
tly There is little Of interest in the movemei
ne Of the other planets, with the exception
~, ~ Saturn, during the month. Jupiter ri
er, now about $50 a. M, 80 that no will
adorn the ante. midnight sky for over amor
ou. to come Saturn, however, rises now at 0
in p. M, and will rise some two hours earlier
the close Of the month so that he will sc
Der be nicely placed for observation. And til
oro is always something well worth looking al
Ugh Saturn. His rings are now expanded nea
as to their greatest extent and the recently
lne ported French discoveries OF some OF th
900 peculiarities possess interest enough even
not the amateur to cause him to direct his tt
e scope to our queer planatory brother W
. - more earnestness than ever before