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

ON tn Providence journal.

| cation, until the 18th. when he changes his role
and becomes evening star. An event then oc-
| ours in the solar family of noteworthy interest
! to the inhabitants of this planet. For Jupit err
| In opposition is the sdus inter minOresignes 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 luminary 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, Ahe eorth being I'm the middle
so that we are at our nearest point him, and he
Is larger and more brilliant than at any other time
lie magnificent planet holds his state as far away
rom the sun 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 as 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
earthS position in the system is Inside instead OF
! outside OF the vast orbit through which he makes
MS circuit round the sun Ii Il Tor this reason that
we can behold him at eventide shining in the east
! or looking dowd with friendly eyes from the mid
| night biackneSS OF the sky. II always seems as
II the opposition IN the fun'S family that
bring the planets into closer companion
ship are like birthdays In terrestrial families and az
worthy OF being celebrated. They are indeed fesi-
val occasions TO all whose hearts are attuned 10
| the harmony OF the spheres. and who have learned
to follow with enthusiastic interest the ceaseeSs
/ wanderlngs OF the solar family. our planet Is no
unworthy member OF the solar fold with whose
present existence and future destiny her own is in
diSSolubly linked The opposition OF Jupiter occurs
on the 10th at O'Clock in the morning lie is, how
ever, not in his most be2ming aspect, for he must
be at or near perihelon, and in high northern decl
nation to be seen under the most favorable circum-
stances. The conditions do not occur until about
/ lS92 Ordinary oppOSitiOnS like the present show
! ou~shinlng brother in charming aspect.
The problems waiting for solution in regard to
| Jupiter are almost without number. Telescopsts
|
| 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 transits OF his moons and their shadows are
scanned by eagled-eyed observers, accurately
mapped by skilled draughtsmen, and laid away To
/ swell the hugh pie OF observations which. one OF
these days, when the Jorian alphabet has found
an Interpreter, Will reveal the process OF world
| making going on In planet SO huge in bulk that
| his pnmeval fire stin burns.
The great red spot, visible for years on Jupi-
ter has come and gone. Its appearance was a
/ mysteryits disappearance Is equally unaccount-
able. Ii left behind an unsolved problem tangi-
/ BILE proof of the equatorial acceeratiOn 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
q revolution in less time than those nearer the
poles Here is another link connecting the CEN
trail luminary more intimately with his lordly
son. and including his developments within the
( bounds of solar mysteries. When we find ont
the reason why the equatorial sun-spots move.
/ faster than the polar sun-Spots then we shall
! learn why the Jovtan bright spots moved faster
than tho great red spot. We shall probably he
convinced at the same time that the regal planet
/ is far more in the condition of the sun than his
| less massive and less richly endowed brethren
| How many ages must roll on before the dawn of
the day ofcertainty succeeds the long night of
! theory?
Meantime, those who do not care TO discuss Jo-
Wan problems must Improve every opportunity for
a view OF the planet, stately in form, delicate i'm
INT, varied In nue. majestic In pose, as he hangs
low IN the heavens, apparently near the SPACE
annlAiliting glass that il seems as if he might be
touched by reaching out the hand. Jupiter when
millions or years hence he becomes fitted for the
abode OF animate iife viii doubtless be Il pleasant
dWeng-place. But there are drawbacks TO All
Unite enjoyment, and We shall not look upon the
future J0Nian5 with eDyiols eyes il they are organ
lied like the Inhabitants OF this planet They will
have sun only one twenty-tiflh as large as me
glorious orb that Eliminates sky, and only one
twenty-ffth OF the light aud heat that we enjoy
pect Is not very brilliant
Jupiter rises on the LIST a few minutes before
O'Clock IN the evening; on the 2sth he sets about A
quarter after O'Clock IN the Inorning
Mars IS evening star until the 1ltn when he takes
els turn IN Joining the morning stars On The llth,
at o'clock III the morning, he IS ia conjunction
with the sun, reversing the role play ed BIZ his
brother planet Jupiter, thus illustrating the two
most important epochS in the revolution OF 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 obserya
ton beyond the sun and as far from the earth az
possible. He is at the same time in conjunction or
Joined TO" the sun. rising and setting with the
sum- ana completely hidden from mortal view In
his bright beams.
Mars, after conjunction, passes TO the SUM- west
ern side, commences his course as morning star
and his SLOW progress towards opposition which he
Will not reach TIL March, 1866 Formonths focome
ne VII! be OF little account. Insignificant in and
close to the SUM- indeed, he never counts for much
excepting for month before and month after on
position while oppostions specially favorable occur
only at intervals of nfteen years In 1892 it NAV be
discovered that his two ting moons first known to
this planet In 1871 are nothing but escaped as,er-
oids that unWlSey strayed within the res;stIes5
force Of Marian attraction. Mars is ID peribeIon
on the sSth and though he is then twensy-six NIL
lion miles nearer the sun than at aphellon he is so
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 In his course on
the Sth At O'Clock in the evening, he Is i'm quad
nature With the SUN his eastern side hair his
course from opposition to conjunction being com
pleted, II we had eyesight Keen enough 10 discern
our most distant brother, We should behold him
looking down from the meridian at sunset, for at
Quadrature he Is 800 from the sun.
Venus Is morning star. Her lustre grows dim
and her size dtminishts as she draws nearer the
sun and rises later every morning. But she is sill
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
transit. on the 1st five minutes before Venus on
the nth, at the same time. and on the ssth he
passes the meridian twentyfour minutes later than
MS fairer nefghbor He is In conjunction with |
Venus on the nth. as already stated.
no incident to eniiven the annals OF the MONTH he
taxes the second place among the starry that
stud the winter sky, remaining through the month |
In position so nearly stationary that he m GIT be
mistaken for one OF the distant suns that beam /
from the star-depths careful observer VIII, |
however, notice the SOftneSs and serenity of his
light in striking contrast with the twinking OF his
companions. This is the proof that he is only q |
planet, shining, like the EARTH by light reflected /
from the sun.
Uranus Is morning star, and drawing near TO OBJ /
position being the last OF the giant planets TO
reach the point where they most interesting TO
terrestrial observers At the end or the month |
Venus, Mercury, Uranus and Mars are morning |
stars: Neptune, Saturn and Jmpiter are evening |
stars.
The February moon fulls the 23th, at II o'clock
IN the evening, that come within an hour of
having no full moon In February. On the 81, three 4
days before the last quarter, the moon is in con-
junction with Uranus This means that the planet /
and moon at the time in the right ascen.
sion longitude although one may be several de- !
grees north south Of the other On the 18th at /
Is minutes past O'clock In the morning. the moon /
is in conjunction with Venus, and "a minutes later
she Is her nearest point to Mercury On the lIth
the day Of her change, she Is In conjunction with
Mars, the 2lst with Neptune, on the sd with |
Saturn, and on the 18th VITA Jupiter