Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-12-11
PLANETS IN DECEMBER.
saturn, Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Uranus
Mercury, Neptune and the Moon.

Mercury, Neptune and the Moon.
[From the Providence Journal
Saturn is morning star until the 2Gth.
when passing to the suns easterly side,
he becomes evening star. On the 2Gth, at
& O'Clock in the morning, he is in oppusi-
ton with the sun, his place i'm the heavens
being opposite" the sun, as the word i'm
plies. He then rises in the east as the sun
sets in the west, and adorns the sky from
sunset to sunrise. He presents grand
display throughout the month, and thirty
years must complete their slow circuit be
fore he will again be visible in his present
aspect. He is charming to behold with
the naked eye, as he makes his way with
retrograde steps among the smaller stars
OF Gcmini. He is surprisingly lovely in
the telescope, as he lies Graded in his
rings, and surrounded by the points of
gold that reveal the presence Of his eight
satellites.
Venus is evening star, and deserves the
highest place on the monthly record, if
beauty and brightness are alone taken as
the standard. She reaches one of her
great time-marks during the MONTH on
the Sth, at o'clock in the evening, she is
at her greatest eastern elOnyatiOn Her
progress eastward is then stayed After
remaining stationary for Il few days. she
commences to turn her steps westward,
apparently approaching the sun, and real
ly approaching the earth. There is no
need to call attention to her lovely aspect,
as night after night She holds her court IN
the western sky as queen of the stars,
now shining amid the golden glow of the
sunset now rejoicing in the crimson hue
that follows the steps Of the departing
sun, and now sereuely bcaming from the
azure background Of the later evening
sky.
Jupiter is morning star. On the 18th at
five O'Clock in the morning, he is in quad
nature with the sun, beng 90 west of
him. His southern declination will pre-
vent his beng seen under the best aspect
but he is in fine position for observation,
notwithstanding this drawback. At the
time OF the latest telescope observations
before the conjunction of Jupiter, the fl-
nous red spot which had nearly disap-
peared showed unmistakable evidences of
activity. The eclipse grew darker as OBJ
served by Mr.. Denning, the central light
cloud disappeared, and the spot resumed
the appearance it presented in 1873. In
terest will therefore centre in the present
aspect OF the red spot, and the changes
! that have taken place during the time the
planet was hidden in the suns rays.
Mars is morning star. The only planet
in the system where we probably see the
real surface and distinct markings that
have the aspect of iirmness. In the other
planets we simply see atmospheric effects.
Although the last opposition brought the
planet to view in Il most unfavorable con-
dition for observation on account Of its
great distance, Schiaparelli managed to
detect the double markings in the So
called canals" Although the next OPP
position is nearly as unfavorable for the
same reason, there is always the pOssibi-
lily that something valuable may be add
ed to what is known Of Mars, or that for
mer observations may be verified.
Uranus is morning star. He reaches
quadrature on the 2Sth mt 10 o'clock in the
evening, making the third planet in quad
nature ON the suns western side during
the mouth. Mars takes the lead and is
followed by Jupiter and Uranus. The
right ascension of Uranus on the LIST is
l2h. pom.
Mercury is evening star till the 18th,
and then joins the morning stars. On the
18th ut II o'clock in the evening, he is in
inferior conjunction with the sun, passing
between the earth and the sun, and reap
pearing Oh his western side as morning
star. Neptune is evening star.
| The December moon tullS ON the 2l>t,
at 3h. 5Sm p. m. On the Sth two days old
moon is in conjunction with Mercury ut
III. On. a. m, being q , north. On the
10th she is in conjunction with Venus at
6h. l9m p. m, being 81 north. On
the 10Th she is near Neptune at 2h. 2im.
a. M, bcinG? - south. On the 22d she
is at her nearest point to Saturn, 6m. after
midnight, being y south. On the eth
she is in conjunction with Mars, at 4h,
/ ION. IL, M, being > Is south. On the
18th she i, in conjunction with Uranus
at IN. 4lm. H. m, being - north, The
moon occults Jupiter, Uranus and Aide
baran, as well as numerous small stars,
during the month. The occultation of
Jupiter is by far the most interesting.
The phenomenon rs seen from the centre
of the earth will take place on the 2Sth ut
3h. 53m. "a. m, Washington mean time