Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-08-29
SEPTEMBER PLANETS.
SWEEPING the HEAVENS,
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r,l,cIpi Piartn- Mticnfy, Seans. ss'ai"'
tne Aeon.

r,i,eiIpl Pinneu- Mionfy, Seans. sste'"'
yhe Aeon.
Providence Journal
MERCURY is morning star on ana
after the Cd. lie comes TO the trent on
the September record, for, though the
smallest Of the principal members Of
the suns family, he is the most active
member of the brotherhood during tAe
month, bis course being marked oy
seven events OF more or less Importance
On the Cd, At ! o'clock in the afternoon
he is in inferior conjunction Win tue
sun. passing between the earth anu
kup. as the moon does at new hooh'
and changing his role from eve
rirr 10 morning star. He is then on
the western side Of the sun, and, moving
At his most rapid pace, arrives on The
18Th nt his western elongatlon, the eN-
t,eme limit Of his oscillation westward.
lie is II degrees 50 west Of the sun,
and at that time. aud for week before
and after. may be picked up by keen
eyed observers as morning star. though
the conditions are unfavora6le. Ii IS
the last time during the year when he
will be visible as morning star. Msr-
curry rises on the 18th nearly an hour
aud half before the sun, and must be
looked for about degrees north OF the
sunset point and about degrees south
east Of RcculIs. An opera-glasS ) an
Almos; necessary aid in the oh'ervauon'
as IL is IN all cases where keen eyeS'gh'
is required for objects family visible.
On the 27th, at / o'clock IN the
morning, Mercury is in conjunction
with Jupiter, being so north. THIS
is the only planetary conjunction OF The
month. Both planets are travelling
westward, but the swiitcr planet out
strips the larger in the race.
Mercury, on the 18th, is at his as
cending node; on the Goth he Is IN
perihclion; on the 30th he Is at his
greatest distance north, as seen from
the centre Of the sun.
The right ascension Of Mercury on
the lst is lOh. 4Gm. his declination
is 2 degrees o. north, his diameter Is
lC".4, and he is in the constellation
Leo.
Mercury sets on the lst at G o'clock
in the evening; on the Both he rises
about a quarter before O'Clock IN the
morning.
SATURN is morning star, and wins
the second place for being at present
the most beautiful Of all the visible
stars. as Jupiter is hidden in the suns
rays and Venus hugs the sun too closely
to be seen long after his disappearance.
This wonder Of the system takes no
active part in the events Of the month.
lie looks serenoly beautiful as, loom
inc above the eastern horizon about
midnight at the beginning Of the month,
be slowly makes his way to the zenith,
the most important member, to human
vision, Of the myriad hosts among
which he shines, reaching his culmina-
tirg point just as he, As well As the
twinkling orbs around him, disappears
in the light Of the coming day.
The right ascension Of Saturn on the
1st is Oh. 27m.; his declination is -
degrees "a north, his diameter Is
1915. and he is in the constellation
Gemini.
Saturn rises on the lst about mid
night; on the Seth he rises at quar-
ter after 10 o'clock in the evening.
VENUS is evening star, and reisas
supreme in the western sky, being the
only visible planet after the sun goes
down. She is still moving southwark
with rapid steps, thus decreasing the
time Of her stay above the horizon, but
keeping her at nearly the same apparent
distance from the sun throughout the
month. though the real distance con-
stantly increases as she proceeds on her
eastward course. Southern observers
will have delightful views Of the fair
evening star during September, and
northern observers will have their turn
when. after pursuing her course to her
extreme southern limit, she turns her
steps northward and adsrns the north
west instead Of the southwest portion
Of the sky. She sets during the
month about an hour after the sun.
but is now so bright that she is visible
almost as soon a. the sun disappears,
her increase in size and brightness being
plainly perccptible.
Venus is in conjunction with Spica
OF Alpha Virgins early in the morning
of the 10th, being at the time . de-
grees 20 north.
The right ascension Of Venus on the
lst is l2h. 42m.; her declination Is 3
degrees So south, her diameter is
1910, and she is in the constellation
Virgo.
Venus sets on the lSt about half
past o'clock in the evening; on the
30th she sets a quarter before : O'Clock.
URANUS is evening star until the Goth,
and then morning star. On the Goth,
at . O'Clock in the morning, Uranus is
in conjunction with the sun, passing
beyond him and reappesring on his
western side. Uranus is the last of
the great planets to reach conjunction.
and after he passes the goal, the giants
Of the system. as well as the lesser
orbs, Mars and Mercury, are all on
the western side OF the sun, shining a,
morning stars.
The right ascension Of Uranus on the
LIST is l2h, I'm. his declination is 0 de-
grees minutes south, his diameter i,
"a, and he is in the constellation
Virgo.
Uranus sets on the LIST soon aftor
o'clock in the evening; on the 30th hu
rises about q quarter after o'clock il
the morning.
NEPTUNE Is morning star, and pur
sues his iar-away course without en-
couniering any other planet or larg
star, seeming just now TO wander in
region that is all his own. lie is al
preaching his nearest point to the eartt
and il he could change places with Maj
would create great excitement anon
terrestrial star gazers.
The right ascension of Neptune
Sh. Sim. his dcclnaiion is : desre,
q minutes north, his diameter is -
and he is IN the constellation Taurus.
Neptune rises on the LIST at halGpa,
9 o'clock in the evening; on the got
he rises at half-psst o'clock.
MANS is morning star. lie is no,