Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-29
Planets in February.

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ours in the solar family OF noteworthy interest
to the inhabitants oSthis planet For Jupt err
in opposition Is the sidus inter minOres ignes on
which terrestrial observers gaze with wonder
and admiration. The Prince of Planets then
takes on his most glorious form. and plainly
shows that he is the power behind the throne,
almost the rival Of the great Iuminary whom he
resembles more closely than is the case with any
of his brother planets.
At opposition Jupiter comes into line with the
earth and the sun, Nle eorth being in the middle,
50 that we are at our nearest point TO htn, and he
Is larger and more brilliant than AT any other time
he magnificent planet holds his state away
ION the sun as possible rising proudly in the east
as the sun sinks slowly In the west, reaching the
zenith with stately step. as the sun touches the
nadir, and gradually fading out OF sight in the
west AZ the sun appears rejoicing in the east We
never behold this giant Of the planetary family In
Its present aspect without being grateful that the
earJhS position in the system is inside instead of
outside nj the vast orbit through which he makes
his circuit round The sun II is for this that
we can behold him at eventide shining la the east
or LOOKING dowd With friendly eyes from The mid
night bldckneSS OF the sky IL always seems as
II the opposition in The fun's family that
bring lhe planets into closer companion
ship are like birthdays in terrestrial families and as
worthy OF being celebrated. They indeed festi-
va! occasions 10 all whose hearts are aftUned 70
the harmony OF the spheres, and who have learned
TO follow with enthusiastic interest the cease.ess
WandeTingS or the solar family. Our planet Is no
present existence and future destiny her own IS u-
diSsolgby linked The opposition OF Jupiter occurs
on the l9th at O'Clock In the morning He is, how
ever, not In his most beaming aspect, for he must
be at or near peflheon, and in hga northern decli-
nation, to be seen under the most ravOra bic crcum-
stances The conditions do not occur until about
1892 Ordinary oppositlon5 like the present show
our shining brother IN Charming aspect
Inc probienS waiting Tor solution in regard to
Jupiter are almost without number. Telescopists
are never weary OF studying the markings on his
DISC. New lines OF his varying belts, dots on his
surface, changing tints, bright spots near his
equator, riffs in his cloud atmosphere OCCUPATIONS
and IfanSitS OF his moons and their shadows are
scanned by eagled-eyed observers, accurately
mapped by skilled draughtsnen, ana laid away 10
swell the hugh pie of observations which, one OF
these days, when the Jovfan alphabet has found
an interpreter. will reveal the process OF world
making going on in a planet huge in bulk that
his prlmeYal fire still burns.
The great red spot visible for wears on .Jnpi-
ter. has come and gone. Its appearance was
mysteTy.lts disappearance is equally unaccount-
able. 1t left behind ali unsolved problem tangi-
bic proof Of the equatorial acceleTation of the
planet. For the bright spots near the equator
made circuit around the planet in FIVE minutes
less time than the great red spot that was 40 de-
grees from the equator. In precisely the same
way. the spots near the suns equator complete
revolution in less time than those nearer the
poles Here is another link eounecting the CEN
trail iuminary more intimately with his lordy
son. and including his deveioninents within the
bounds or solar mysteries When we find ont
the reason why the equatorial sun-spots move
faster than the polar suA-sp9ts then we shall
learn why the Jovian bright spots moved faster
than the great red spot. We shall probably Toe
convinced at the same time that the REAL plaret
Is far more in the condition OF the sin than his
less massive and less richly endowed brethren
How many ages must roll on before the dawn of
the day OF certainty succeeds the long night of
theory?
Wan problems must improve every opportunity Tor
view OF the planet. stately In form, delicate in
tiht varied IN hsie majestic IN pose. as he hangs
10" IN the heavens, apparently near the space
annIhiiating glass that ii seems as II he might be
touched by reaching out the hand. jupiter, when
MililonS or years hence he becomes fitted Tor the
abode OF animate life will doubtless be pleasant
dWeilng-place. But there are drawbacks Ia an
finite enjoyment, and we shall not look upon The
future JOvans with enyi0us eyes II they are organ
Yea Ike the Inhabitants Of this planet. They VIII
have sun only one twenty-fflh as large as the
glorious orb that fluminate5 our sky. and ONLY one
tWenty-fifth OF the light and heat that we enjoy
II, 10y that time, tie suns fres grow DIM the pros
pect is not very brilliant.
Jupiter rises the ISt q few minutes before
O'Clock In the evening" on the 2Sth he sets about a
quarter after 8 O'Clock in the morning.
Mars lSGIening star until the 18th when he taxes
els turn In Joining The morning stars on the Ilth
at O'Clock In the morning, he Is in cOnIunrtion
with the sun, reversing the role played by his
brother planet Jupiter, thus illustrating the two
most important epochS in the revolution or the
outer planets, conjunction and opposition. Mars is
then IN line with the sun and the earth but with
the sun in the middle, being to terrestrial obserys-
ton beyond the sun and as far from the earth rs
possible. lie Is at the same time IN conjunction or
'.j0ned to" the sun, rising ami setting with The
sun, and completely hidden from mortal view in
his bright beams.
Mars, after conjunction, passes to the sun : west
ern side, commences his course as morning star
and his slow progress towards Opposition vficE he
will not reach Till March, 1866 For months come
ne Will be or little account Insignificant In size and
close to the sun indeed, he never counts for much
excepting for month before and month after on,
pootlon while oppoSitionS specially favorable occur
only at intervals vi nftee years In 1892 it may be
discovered that his two tiny moons first known IN
this planet In 1871 are nothing but escaped aser-
ODDS that unwiSey Strayed within the rssstIesS
force OF Marian attraction. Mars is In Derhelion
on the ssth, and though he Is then twenty-sx mil
lion miles,nearer the than at APPLETON ne is go
far away from the earth that we gain nothing by
the occurrence OF the epoch.
Neptune is morning star during the month He
reaches an important time-mark ID his course On
the Sth, III O'Clock In the evening, he is I'm quad
ratIre with the sun on his eastern side haif his
peted, Ii we had eyesght keen enough to discern
our most distant brother, we should behold him
looking down from the meridian at sunset, for at
quadrature he is 900 from the sun
Venus IS morning star Her lustre grows dim
and her size dfmihishes as she draws nearer the
and rises later every morning But She fs still
beautiful TO behold, as She makes her Appearance
In the morning dawn an hour before sunrise.
Mercury Is morning STAR His path lies near that
OF venus during the whole month He makes his
transit, On the 1st, five minutes before Venus on
the nth, at the same time, and on the asth he
passes the merldian twenty-four minutes later than
his falrer neIghDor He is In conjunction with
venus on the 18th, as already stated
Saturn is evening star. Though he contributes
no Incident to enliven the annals OF the MONTH he
takes the second place among the starry hosts that
stud the winter sky, remaining through the month
In position SO nearly stationary that he mght be
mistaken for one OF the distant suns thai beam
from the star-depths. careful observer WILL
however, notice the softneSs and serenity OF his
light In striking contrast with the twinkling of his
companions This is the proof that he Is only a
planet, shining, like the earth, by light reflected
from the sun
Uranus is morning star, and drawing near to Cd
position, being the last OF the four giant planets 10
reach the point where they most interesting TO
terrestrial observers. At the end OF the month
Venus, Mercury, Uranus and Mars are morning
stars: Neptune, saturn and Jmpiter are evening
stars.
NOON.
The February moon fuIis on the e8th as II O'CLOCK
IN the evening, so that we come within an hour OF
having no full moon In February On the 3d. three
days before the last quarter, the moon rs ia con-
junction with Uranus This means that the planet
and moon are at the time In the same right ascen.
sion or longitude, although one may be several de-
grees north or south OF the other. On the Iath at
IS minutes past O'Clock In the morning the moon
Is In conjunction with Venus, and "a minutes later
she at her nearest point to Mercury On the l4th
the day Of her change, she Is In conjunction with
Mars, on tho S1gt with Neptune, on the PAD WITH
Saturn, and On the 28th with Jupiter.
TAx1xox1IERIcAL R1ADrEoa-sa %. LOO deg; 2
m. Is.o deg; II q N 03.deg; 2. N s6.a de9.