The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-02-12
The Planets IN Fehrnarr,

abridged from the Providence Journal
Jupiter is morning star until the 10Th
when he changes his role. and becon,in~
evening star takes OH his most glorious
form. At opposition. Jupiter comes into
line with the earth and sun the earth mo.
ing in the middle, ST. that we are nj nnr
nearest point la him. and he is larger and
more brilliant than at any other time
The magnificent planet holds his state as
far away from the sun us possible. rising
proudly in the EAST as the sun sinks slowlyin
the west. reaching the zenith with stately
step as the sun touches the nadir ana
gradually fading out of sight in the west
as the san appears rejoicing in the east,
Mars is evening star until the 18th. when
he takes his turn in joining the morning
stars. On the 18th. at seven O'Clock in
the morning. he is in conjunction with the
sun. reversing the role layed by his
brother planet Jupiter. thus illustrating
the two most important epochs in the
rev olutlon of the outer planets, cOniurc-
ton and opposition. Mars is then in line
with the sun and the earth, but with the
sun in the middle. being to terrestrial Oh.
servation beyond the sun and as far from
the earth as possible. He is at the same
time in conjunction or Joined to'' the
san. rising and setting with the sun. and
his bright beams.
| Mars, after conjunction, passes to the
sun S western side, commences his course
as morning star, and Ills slow progress TO.
wards opposition, which he will not reach
| till March. 1886. For months to come ha
will be of little account, insigni6cant in
size and close to the sun indeed. he never
counts for much, excepting for month
before ana month after opposition, while
opposltlons specially favorable occur only
NJ intervals OF fifteen years. In 1892 it
may be discovered that his two tiny moons.
first known to this planet in 1877. are
nothing but escaped asteroids that m.
wisely strayed within the resistIess force
Of Martian attraction.
Neptune is morning star during the
month lie reaches an important time
mark III his course. On the 9Th AFT nine
clock III the evening, he is in uuadratnre
with the sun on his eastern side, half his
course from opposition to conjunction he
ing completed.
Venus IS morning star. Her lustre
grows dim, and her size diminishes as she
draws nearer the sun and rises later every
morning, But she is still beautiful to be-
hold, as she makes her appearance in the
morning dawn an hour before sunrise.
Mercury is morning star. His path lies,
near that of Venus during the whole.
month. He makes his transit on the first.
live minutes before Venus, on the 18th at
the same time, and on the 18th he passes
the meridian twenty-four minutes later
than his fairer neighbor. He is in con-
junction with Venus on the 18th.
Saturn is evening star. Though lie con-
tributes no incident to enliven the annals
of the month. he takes the second place
among the starry hosts that stud the win
ter sky, remaining through the month in a
position so nearly stationary that he might
be mistaken for one of the distant suns
that beam from the star-depths. A care
fpl observer will, however. notice the soft
ness and serenity of his light in striking
contrast with the twinkling of his compan1
ions. This is the proof that he is only a
planet, shining, like the earth, by light re-
Elected from the sun.