Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-02
January ~kye~
THE PLANETARY DISPLAY FOR THE MONTH.

The PLANETARY DISPLAY FOR THE MONTH.
From the Providence journal
Mercury is evening star until the Sd. ana morn
ing star Tor the rest OF the month. lie wins the
highest rank on the January annals, Tor he con-
tributes three important iaofdents 20 enliyen TIA
record. These are, his inferior conjunction with
the sun, his great western e!ongaulon. ana his
conjunction with Venus
Very little is known about Mercury with any
oegree OF certainty, FOR his nearness 20 the sun
makes MN difilcult object for accurate ol,serya-
ton- The period ~ his rotation ON his avis sup-
posed 10 De about twenty-Iour hours Is not conslS
S S as oynhd question. neither Is the position OF
Ms axis known. Schroeter, d.lieent observer M
the beginning OF the present century ssw'or
Thought he saw-when the planet was In crescenr
form. the alternate bunting OF the horns son,e
minute projections from the limb and An rres-nlsy
curve oi le termination. He Interpreted the pben-
olneha as tne shadows OF LOFTY mountains and. ac-
coIding TO his measurement, they were twelve
miles high But the more EXPERIENCED observers ~
the present day, with their inner Instruments ran
cred proven" In regard TO tha MIA "a nj nosnhre
MS deviation from spherical form or many ofh,sr
pnenolrlena probably due 10 the Imagination OF
those VINO saw through the glass darby
more Important problem Is now pulling the
Drains OF astronomers Leyerrier. AFTER profound
anu exhaustive examination OF records, announced
that the perihelion OF Mercury orbit moves around
the sun more rapidly than can be explainesi nv tina
action OF the other known planets Tie acceleration
amounting 10 90 In century. The French as.
tronomer searched diligently for the cause ami
finally concluded that IL was due 20 an unknown
the sun. He died in this belief and In confdent
expectation that one or more planets would be
added TO the system, and the aercuriai perturba-
tons be accounted for. The rebelllous planet Sun
refuses 10 come under the rules and the fact thar
the perfhelion OF his orbit moves round the sun
faster than IL ought "a. Is considered as stap
lisned. The cause OF the anomaly has not vet been
detected No prubematical Vulcan, no unnamed
planets, no group OF asteroids, have ever made
ranslls over the sun aud restored harmony
20 the system. Unskilled observers. ia
most instances, have seen little bodies
OF planets. Their observations, however have not
been confirmed by observers who for fifty wears
have never allowed fair day to pass without scan
nlng or mapping the suns face The transit of A
planet no bigger than a pins point would moi
escape ther yigtlant watch. During total ecllpses
uny stars have been noted that it was hoped would
prove 10 be the much desired Mercurial plan
cts But the preponderance OF evidence Is against
the existence OF the unseen wanderers and the
problem remains as completely unsolyed as Il DID
when the discrepancy was first discovered The
best observers With the finest instruments and the
cost fGf rable opportunities. have thus Tar found
n clue Mercury defes the host OF terrestrial g.
ttonomers and mathematcians, and spins on his
way, his perihelion point advancing with accele-
rating speed. In fashion incomprehensible 10
those best yersed In the laws that hold In place
the sun and his family or worlds. The probability
Is strong that the science OF astronomy from lis
present standpoint, has no means al command To
Solve the question The astronomy OF the future
Will show the way
Venus Is morning star durinp the month Sba a.
Slowly approaching the sun and her superior con-
Junction, which does not occur until Nav She "A
v.
may see Tor himself. who commands a view Of the
southeastern horizon, and makes observation AN
hour before sunrise. She contributes an Interest,"
ing incident 10 the planetary annals of the month
by her conjunction with Mercury on the asta
when She acts as guide for those who desire n
glimpse oil the sparkling planet. who. however, VIII
not deign 70 show his face unless atmospheric aud
cloud conditions are the very best.
Jupiter is morning star during the month.
Although thus ranked In astronomical calculation.
he is hear enough TO opposition 20 b. a superb OH
lect In the evening sky, being visible nearly the
entire night lie now makes his appearance above
the eastern horizon at O'Clock IA the evening in
the northeast and on moonless nights Is by far the
brightest star In the heavens He remains almost
stationary throughout the MONTH moving a little
farther north. and being carried westward for ths
same reasons that the fixed stars are that Is by
The earth's eastward motion IN her oroiL Conse-
quently he rises about tour minutes earlier every
night, 50 That when January closes ne Will e seen
looming above the eastern horizon shortly before
oclock no one can help being Impressed by the
imposing presence OF this leader OF the celestial
host.
Uranus is morning star. He pursues his slow
course without making the least contribution 10
planetary annals, but he is leaving the neighbour
hood OF the sun. and consequently drawing nearer
TO the EARTH Ii takes Uranus seven wears 10 PASS
through zodiacal constellation. ana eighty-four
years 10 complete revolution round the sun. Dis
covered In 1871. he has made but one revolution
and quarter OF another one since he became a
known member or the system. The years are long
on The Uranan sphere.
Saturn is evening star. He is only second 10 Jul
plter In brllliancy and size, ana moves sereney on
cord concerning his progress When Jupiter rises
In The early part OF the month. Saturn Is nearly on
the meridian; when Jupiter has reached the zenith
saturn Is sinking below the western horizon. We
have no news 10 tell I'm regard TO this fascinating
planet, but we have faith 10 believe that some
thing worth knowing will be revealed concerning
the complex Saturnian ring system befC the s7th
OF september OF the present year usllers In the
long anticipated Saturnian perihelion
Neptune is evening scar. He purSues his SNAIL
Ike course through the heavens, far away Just
now from any OF his brother planets lie Is thir-
- IN inrrf raf-la tnfna.
therefore IL Is easy 10 keep the run Of his place In
The heavens
Mars is evening star He Is very near the sun
and completely hidden IN his rays
TIE MOON.
The first month OF the new year holds in her gfft
two fun moons The moon fulls on the 1st rs min
utes after midnight, and also the Both at 10 min.
utes after IL O'Clock in the morning ON the attn
the moon Is In conjunction with Jupiter and ON the
6Ln with Uranus On the 18Th she pays her re-
SpectS 10 Venus and on the 14th 10 Mercury On the
l6Jh she Is az her nearest point to Mars. aud, as
THIS Is the day OF her change 70 moon. IL shows
now near Mars II 10 the sum- Indeed. those who
watch The course OF the moon Will ind n easy 20
keep In mind the relative pos ton OF the planets
On the oath The moon Is In conjunction with Nep-
tune and on the 10th with Saturn, thus completing
her circuit and giving the order OF succession of the
planets, drawing near 10 the morning Stars Jupi-
ter, Uranus, Venus and Mercury, anu then swing
Ing her D0nderous sphere near the evening stars
Mars, Neptune and saturn.