Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-12-03
URASoLoaY FOR DECEMBER.

The phases of the December Moon will
occur in this locality as follows: New
Moon, 9th, SIG u. M. first 1r.arter, 14th,
1.22 p. M; full Moon, 2Isssso.5s p. IL last
quarter, 2Stb, 7.20 n. IN.
A few minutes before setting, mt 5.26 on
the morning Of December 10Th, the Moon
iii occult the first magnitude star Aide
baran for the third time this year. 0cculta-
tions OF small stars, from the fifth magni-
tude down, will be quite frequent.
The greatest treat of tho year in this line,
however, will be the Moons occultation OF
the chief Of the planets, the stately Jupiter,
at 2.45 on the morning of the 2Sth. With
favoring weather this will be such sight
as should keep possessors Of telescopes out
OF their beds to witness IL. 1t Is probable
that the great planet will be wholly or
partially ecllpsed for few minutes, and
that his satellites may also fall within the
line OF occultation; tho immense planet and
three OF his moons hidden In turn by our
little Moon. At the same time the
other OF Jupiter's moons-the one nearest
the planet-will be- oeculted by the planet
itself-that is, 1t will have passed behind
the planet us viewed from the earth Nat
urally the observer at telescope, while
| awaiting the occultation of Jupiter by our
| Moon, will note the disappearance of this
one Of the planets moons, at 2.29 q. M,
when II will be suddenly blotted from view
| by the shadow Of the planet, (this being an
eclipse of the satellite), passing behind the
| body OF the planet (this being an
occultatlon) before emerging from
| the shadow, there to remain until 53S
| a. M, when it will emerge into view on the
| other side OF the planet. II the sky be clear
this conjunction OF Jupiter and the Moon,
with its probable occutation features, will
be the most interesting planetary event Of
the year to the observer ut the eyepiece Of u
good telescope Even fair spyRlAss. 90
mounted as to he held steadily viii give an
entertaining view Of the phenomenon.
At ~ o'clock on the morning Of December
2lst the Sun will enter tho sign Capricornu.
the first day OF winter.
Mercury will be evening planet until the
18th and morning planet for the rest O
December, remaining too near the Sun fol
observation during the month. Recon
observations. Of Mercury by an Englisi
astronomer have shown minute and fain
white markings on his disc, the nature o
which can only be guessed at.
Venus reaches her greatest eastern elOnga
TONY degrees, - minutes-on the Sth
after which date she begins to slowly reap
proach the sun. She will steadily increas
in brtlliancy throughout the month, givinj
50 per cent. more light at Its close than sh
does now. Her disc, which will be half-moo
/ shaped about the Sth-10th, will be quit
erescentic by the 31st
Mars rises now about 1l.3O a. m, and
growing very pcrceptlbly In brightness
His disc which measures now about Z
seconds In diameter will increase to nearl
10 seconds by the end Of the month";
Jupiter rises about u. m. During tn
, night OF the sth he will be quite close to til
: star Eta Virgins.
9 Saturn Is In almost the best possible posI
e tlon for observation, shining all night Ion
and exhibiting his rings opened to thel
Q widest extent. On the Goth he will be l
: opposition to the Sun. Not for nearly j
, years will this planet be so favorably place
4 again; he will, therefore, be the target fc
telescopes all over the world during tn
coming month.
Uranus will be in close conjunction wit
o the Moon at T,49 on the morning OF til
a 2Sth; five hours after the beginning Of ii
occultation of Jupiter, referred to above. a
-? the Sun will then have risen this coniun,
ton will be practically invisible.
Neptune promises nothing Of intere
r during December