Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-12-08
DECEMBER'S SKY.
The Planetary Display for the Month.

From the Providence Journal. -
Saturn is morning star until the 26th, when
passing to the suns easterly side, he becomes
evening star. On the 26th, at s o'elockAn the
morning, he is in opposition with the sun, his
place in the heavens being Opposite the SUM-
as the word implies. He then rises in the east
as the sun sinks in the west. and adorns the
SKY from sunset TO sunrise. He presents a
grand display throughout the monih,and thirty
years must complete their slow circuit before
he will again be visible in his present aspect.
The hour has at length come that observers
have so long desired. The beautifu planet is
Ia opposition. is only two months past perihel-
Ion, his magnificent rings are open to their
widest extent, and he has reached his highest
1orthern deciination- He is charming to- be-
hold with the naked eye, as he makes his wav
with retroSrade steps among the smaller stars
Ci Gemlni. He is surprisingly lovely in the
telescope. as he lies cTadied in his rings. and
surrounded by the points of gold that reveal
the presence of his eight satellites These are
red-letier days for SatuTnian astronomers. who
VIII not tail to improve the opportunity for the
study of his surface, especially the constitution
OF the dark spaces between his rings and the
shadowy markings ON his disc. The features of
tnlS planet surface are of extreme delic9cy
The eye must be pTacticed, and OF exceptional
visual power, the telescope powerful and of the
beSt make. ana the atmosphere clear and calm
TO give any hope OF reaching reliable results
1t is easy TO recognize saturn he rises in the
northeast about 8 O'Clock in the evening: OH
The 31st ne sets at a quarter before O'Clock in
the morning.
venus is evening star, and deserves the high
est place on the monthly record, III beauty aud
brightness are alone taken as the standard She
reaches one of her great time marks during the
month On the Stn, at O'Clock in the evening,
she Is at her greatest eastern elongatiOn, being
at that time Az 1Y east OF the sun. Her
progress eastward is then STAYED After re-
manning stationary for a few days, she COM
menceS to turn her steps westward, increasing
her pace. apparently approaching the sun, and
really approaching the earth There is no need
Ia call attention TO her lovely aspect, Us night
after night she holds her court III the. western
s,,, "a
the golden glow of the sunset. now rejoicing in
tile crimson hue that follows he steps of the
departing sun. and now sereuely beanfing from
the azure background of the later evening sky.
one never tires OF admirnC this beautiful star.
She will be charming as she retraces her steps
towards the sun, and a fine subject :or study in
the remaining two months OF her course
evening star.
Jupiter is morning star On the 26th Mt
O'Clock in the morning, he is in quidrature
with the sun, being 90 degrees west of him.
His southern defamation will prevent his being
seen under the best aspect, hut he is in tine posi-
ton for observation, notwithstanding this
drawback. At the time eff the latest telescope
observations before the conjunction of Jupiter,
the famous red spot which had nearly diSap-
peared showed unnsistakable evidences OF &C.
by Mr. Denning. the central light cloud diSap
peared. and the spot reassumed the al-
pearance it presented in 1873. Interest
will therefore center in the present aspect of the
REQ spot, and the changes that have taken place
during the time the planet hidden in
the suns rays. The Prince of Planets is more
tangible than his more distant brother Saturn,
and therefore his atmospheric features are more
firmly established. Joyian observers will
study carefully the red spot. tue dark belts.
the white spots bordering them, while the huge
planet is favOrably situated, as he is during the
entire month, rising before midnight at its
close.
Mars is morning star. On the third. at six
O'Clock IN the evening" he Is in quadrafure with
Inc sun, ana heDceioTth until ne reaches oPpo-
sition will be of some importance on the PLAN
etary record. Mars is the only planet in the
system where We probably see the real surface
and distinct markings that have the aspect OF
firmness. In the other planets simply
atmospheric effects. On the Sd of November
Mars is in conjunction with Regulus, being 10
13 north. For several days, from the lst to
the .th, the planet and star may be observed
with marine glass in the same field of vision.
Mars will be readily found on account OF his
vicinity TO Reguius.
ture on the 2Sth at 10 O'CLOCK in the evening,
making the third planet in quadrature on the
takes the lead and is followed by Jupiter and
Uranus.
Mercury is evening star on the 18th, and then
joins the morning stars. On the 18th, at IL
O'Clock in the evening he is in inferior conjunc-
ton with the sun, passing between the earth
and sun. and reappearing on his western side
as morning star.
Neptune is evening star.
THE MOON.
The December moon fulls on the Dist, at 3h.
5Sm. pm. On the Sth the two-days-old moon
is in conjunction with Mercury at III. ON. a. m.
being 81 3 north. On the 10th she is in con-
junction with Venus at Oh. 12m. p.m being 30
so north. On the 10Th she is near Neptune at
2h. Dim. am. being - 10 south. On the 12d
she IL at her nearest point TO Saturn f,In inter
midnight, being 30 IS south. On the 9th size
IS in conjunction with Mars, at Al. ION. am.
being - 80 south On the 2Sfh she is in con-
junction with Uranus, at 7h. lin. am, being
90 north.
OSCILLATIONS.
The moon occults Jupiter, Uranus and Aide
baraB, as well as numerous small stars during
the month. The oceultatiOn OF Jupiter is by
far the most interesting. Tile phenomenon as
seen from the center of the earth will take place
on the 2sth at 3n. som. am. Washington mean
time IL Will be visible To all observers on the
earths surface, whose position corresponds to
the position OF the moon seen from the
earthS center or her geocentrc position. OBJ
servers must, however be ON the dark side of
tine earth at the time, and between the limiting
parallels OF SSO north and 29o SOuth. The Oc-
cuItation will be visible tor :: very sbor, TING at
Washington. the latitude being :}So SO north
just below the northern limiting parallel. There
VIII ne ~ close conjunction OF the moon and
Jupiter in this vicinity that Will me worth get
ting up early To observe, the moon being within
a few hours OF her hast quarter. and the bright
planet being fair To see. for moon and star will
iiang side by side, before the breaking of the
dawn.
The occuitation OF Uranus occurs on the same
morning at an Aim. u. H., Was nington mean
time. and Il, OF course, invisible IN this vicinity
as u takes place AFTER sunrise. the Occuitation
OF Aldebaran. for the twelfth time during the
year, VIII occur on the Goth at An. ISM a. m
washington mean time The phenomenon
Will De visible at Washington. The immersion
OF the star occurs AT 5r- Ism n. m.. Washing
ton mean time. The Occuitttion cont irrtres 4SI
The eHiersion occurs at 6n. I'm. a. m. but will
Lot De visible in Washington, moon and star
are then below the horizon.
DECEMBER
shows az active condition of the suns family.
The heavens are alive with interesting events
among our celestial neighbors, the planets The
moon occults Jupiter and Uranus on the. same
morning. aud hides from view the red star
AidebITstn on another occasion. \ te!escopic
view oI the occEitatiOn OF Jupiter presents a
he trift
planets surrounded nv ms beaming satellites
seems 10 Plug hC:tdlpHs into the moons
domain. and Ia Ac sn,.deniy Jiutted from the
Say II II only ser short tistie. He Soon reap-
pears IL majestic t3t stately : ever. pursuing
hss c''urSe among Q he stars. aud soon with his
companions, 10 disappear in The coming day
Ii-ht The OPT CSiiissn oi -sttusn j. IL noteworthy
event On the monthly record. There are also
the quadraiuFss OF Mas. Jupiter and URANUS
tHe greatest eastern eipn- alton of Venus and
The inferior conjunction OF Mercury. Mars
I!oids "A confeFencc with Eeeuius, and Jupiter
draws near 10 Eta Virgins.
There Is darln-s the last month Of the year a
prospect Ga enjoyment and abundant Oppnr-
tanIfy ilr steady work for those who follow the
planets In their course ana seek To fat nom the
mysterious bond that uuite- planet to planet
and binds the members o. tie solar family into
Que harmonious whole. The planets bear con-
slant and tangible testimony IN the resiStieSs
sway welded by tie ati-p0weriui sun. whose
least dIStur bace Is felt i'll the renloteSt
hounds. aud yho Ho.Gs gitfiE his fiery oru the