Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-01
PLANETS FOR NOVEMBER.
SWEEPING THE HEAVENS.
A Peep Through the Big Telescope -Caper'
OF Neptune VEINS and saturn.
fproyidpnce Journal

nODOI VII hnc MUMMY ItCoiu' 'hNNoN
his ascendancy is Of short duration,
for, on the 10th, at 3 s'slock in the
morning, he reaches the most interest
ing epoch in his course, his opposition
with the sun. lie then passes from
the suns western side to his east
ern. becomes evening star in techni-
cal classification. though in reality
be has been evening star for several
months. He is at his nearest point to
the earth, and is so situated that a
straight line, drawn from the sun to
the earth, would. if extended, reach
Neptune. This planet, when at his
nearest possible point-.that is, perlhe-
lion as well as opposition-is 1922
000,CG0 miles away. When he is at
the most distant point possible-that
is, in aphelion and conjunction-he is
2,SG3, $4,000 miles away. These
figures give little idea Of the vast realm
of space to be trayersed before the
abiding place Of the most distant men,
Der Of the solar brotherhood is reached,
even when taking the shortest route.
There are advantages, however, to be
derived from the opposition of a planet
that travels on the systems remotcst
bounds. Though he may never be seen
with the naked eye, he is in the best po-
sition for telescope observation. A
good glass will quickly detect his pre-
sence, if his position be known, and
plainly show the difference between
him and the surrounding stars. for the
planet will develop a disc, while a star
in the most powerful telescope will for
ever remain a point. Observers who
wish to look for Neptune will find the
present the most favorable time. lie
will be found about degrees south
Of the Plciades, and about the same
distance west of Aldebaran. lie takes
on the form of a small, round disc of a
pale blue color, and is accompanied by
a tiny satellite, point Of light close to
the primary.
Neptune, though the most distant
planet, has the shortest synodic period
Of any of the outer planets. lie moves
from opposition to opposition again in
about 3GS days. Thus, knowing the
time Of opposition for one year, it may
be found for the next by adding three
days. The calculation is approximate,
but answers for ordinary purposes.
The reason is plain. The earth makes
the circuit Of the ecliptic in one year,
passing through a constellation Of the
zodiac IN one month. Neptune moves so
slow thatit takes him lGj years to make
the circuit Of the ecliptic and ID years
to travel through constellation Of the
zodiac. The earth, therefore, after
making revolution, will oyertake her
slow moving brother in three days,
when sun. earth, and Neptune will be
in line, and a synodic revolution will be
completed.
The matter of greatest interest in re-
gard to Neptune Is the possibility that
be may be the means Of pointing out
the place of another planet, at twice
his own distance from the sun, an ultra
Neptunlan planet. as it is called. As
tronomerS are diligently sweeping the
skies with this purpose in view. and IN
obedience to some slight perturbations
indicating a possibility that the utmost
bounds of the system have not yet
been scanned by mortal eye.
The right ascension Of Neptune on
the lst is 3 h. 80 M. his declinaton is
IL degrees IL north. his diameter is
2."6, and he is in the constellation
Taurus.
Neptune rises on the lst at hall-past
5 o'clock in the afternoon on the goth
lie sets at half-past 5 o'clock in the
morning.
VENUS evening star. Nothing in
planetary presentation is more charm
ing than her nightly appearance in the
western sky in the early evening.
Almost as soon as the sun sinks below
the horizon she seems to spring into
being. reigning alone on mOonless nights,
long before the lesser stars have span
gled the heavens with twukling
points Of light. She grows daz-
zlingly beautiful as the shadows dark
en-, and as she quickly follows the
great luminary behind the hills, leaves
behind but one regret, that the period
Of her presence in the sky is so short.
There is much improvement in this re-
spect in November. In the beginning
Of the month the fairest Of the stars de-
lights the observer for two hours after
sunset; and on the last Of the month
she fingers in the west for three hours
after the great luminary has disappear
ed. Venus is passing now from superior
conjunction to eastern elongation, COM
ing nearer to the earth and turning less
and less Of her illumined disc towards
US. Her course has been southwark,
but on the 10th she commences to move
north. This will lengthen her stay
above the horizon and brin, her into
better position for observation.
The right ascension Of Venus on
the lSt is In. 3lm., her decllnation
is 2j degrees So south, her diameter
is 49,, and she is in the constellation
Scorpio.
Venus sets on the LIST a few minutes
before : o'clock in the evening; on the
seth she sets at half-past : o'clock.
SATURN is morning star in astro-
nomical classification, although on the
LIST he rises at 8 O'Clock in the evening,
making his appearance in the east about
an hour after his fair rival. Venus, dis
appears in the west. He reigns rs the
sole representative Of the visible plan
etary brotherhood till midnight, when
Mars bears him company, while
about the time he reaches the me-
ridian Jupiter makes his appearance
in the east. Saturn is in fine posi-
ton for observation during the whole
month, either with the naked eye or
the telescope. lie has just passed
perihelion, is approaching opposition, IS
near his highest northern declination,
and his rings are open to their widest
extent. Observers are wise who care
fully study his present aspect, for
change will be perceptible before long
and many years will then roll on be.
fore his present serene splendor and
clear light will gladden. our eyes.
Saturn has been moving eastward