Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-06

planets we simply see atmospheric
ehects. Although the last opposition
brought the planet TO view in most I'M
favorable condition for observation on
account of its great distance, Schiapa-
reiii managed to detect the double mark
ings in the so-called canals Al
though the next opposition is nearly as
unfayorable for the same reason, there
IS always the possibility that some
thing valuable may be added TO what is
known OF Mars or that former obser-
yations may be verified. On the Sd Of
November Mars is in conjunction with
Regulus, being ! degree l9> north.
For several days, from the LIST to the
9TH, the planet and star may be OBJ
served with a marine glass in the same
field Of vision. Mars will be readily
found on account Of his vicinity to
Regulus.
The right ascension Of Mars on the
LIST Is l0h. Ann. his declination is 0
degrees 81 north; his diameter 7/. 6,
and he is in the constellation Leo.
Mars rises on the LIST about quarter
after ii O'Clock in the evening on the
3lst he rises about quarter after 10
o'clock.
URANUS is morning star. lie reaches
quadrature on the 2Sth at 10 o'clock in
the evening, making the third planet in
quadrature on the suns western side
during the month. Mars takes the lead
and is followed by Jupiter and Uranus.
The right ascension Of Uranus on
the LIST is l2h. 26m. his declination j :
2 degrees south; his diameter is &c,
and he is in the constellation Virgo.
Uranus arises on the LIST at l:30
o'clock in the morning; on the 3lst he
rises soon after 1880 o'clock in the
/ evening.
MERCURY is evening star till the
18th, and then joins the morning stars.
On the 18th at IL o'clock in the even
ing, he is in inferior conjunction with
the sun, passing between the earth and
the sun, and reappearing on his western
side as morning star.
/
the lst is 1Sh. Am. his declination is
IS degrees 81 south his diameter is
&c, and he is in the constellation
Sagittarius.
Mercury sets on the 1st about half
past 5 o'clock in the evening; on the
Dist he rises at half-past 5 o'clock in
the morning.
NEPTUNE is evening star.
The right ascension Of Neptune on
the LIST is 3h. l5m. his declination is
l6 degrees north; his diameter is
2".6, and he is in the constellation
| Taurus.
Neptune sets on the lst not far from
half-past O'Clock in the morning; on
the 3lst he sets about palf-past 3
o'clock.
THE MOON.
The December moon fulls on the 2lst
at 3h. 5Sm. p. NJ. On the Sth the two
days-old moon is in conjunction with
Mercury at In. ON. A. NJ, being de-
grees 3 north. On the 10th she is in
conjunction with Venus at Oh. ION.
p. NJ, being degrees So north. On
the 10Th she is near Neptune at Oh.
24m. A. NJ, being 2 degrees AS south.
On the 22d she is at her nearest point
to Saturn, 6m. after midnight, being
3 degrees So south. On the 9th she
is in conjunction with Mars at 4h. l9m.
A. NJ, being 2 degrees 49, south. On
the 28th she is in conjunction with
Uranus at It'll. Aim. A. NJ, being So
north.
OCCUPATIONS.
The moon occults Jupiter, Uranus
and Aldebaran, as well as numerous
small stars, during the month. Tn
occultation Of Jupiter is by far the mos
interesting. The phenomenon as seen
from the centre of the earth will take
place on the 29th at 3h. 55m. A. NJ,
Washington mean time. 1t will be
visible to all observers on the earth's
surface, whose position corresponds to
the position Of the moon as seen from the
earth's centre or her geocentric position.
Observers must, however, be on the
dark side of the earth at the time,
and between the limiting parallels Of
80 degrees north and 80 degrees south.
The Occultation will be visible for
very short time at Washington, the
latitude being 3S degrees 53/ north,
Just below the northern limiting paral
lei. There will be a close conjunction
of the moon and Jupiter in this vicinity
that will be worth getting up early to
observe, the moon being within few
hours of her last quarter, and the
bright planet being fair to see, for moon
and star will hang side by side, before
the breaking of the dawn.
The occultation Of Uranus occurs on
the same morning, at III. Aim. A. NJ,
Washington mean time, and is of course
invisible in this vicinity, as it takes
place after sunrise. The occultation Of
Aldebaran, for the twelfth time during
the year, will ocear on the Goth, at 4h.
2Sm. A. NJ, Washington mean time.
The phenomenon will be visible at
Washington. The immersion Of the
star occurs at 5h. Ism. A. NJ, Wash
incton mean time. The occultation
continues forty-nine minutes. The
EMERSON occurs at Oh. I'm. A. NJ, but
will not be visible in Washington, as
moon and star are then below the hori-
| zon.
DECEMBER.
shows an active condition Of the suns
family. The heavens are alive with
interesting events among our celestial
neighbors, the planets. The moon oc-
cults Jupiter and Uranus on the same
morning, and hides from view the red
star Aldebaran on another occasion. A
telescope view of the occultation Of Ju-
piter presents a scene of wonderous
beauty. The Prince Of Planets, sur
rounded by his beaming satellites, seems
to plunge headlong into the moons do
main, and to be suddenly blotted from
the sky. 1t is only for short time.
He soon reappears as majestic and state
ly as ever, pursuing his course among
the stars, and soon, with his compan-
ions, to disappear in the coming day
light. The opposition Of Saturn is
noteworthy event on the monthly re-
| cord There are also the nuadratures