Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-29

pass beyond the sun, should be side by
side. But this is the way they would
be projected on the sky 70 an observer
on the earth II they were visible.
The right ascension Of Mercury on
the LIST is In Aim. his declination Is
IL degrees 57> north; his diameter is
GA, and he is in the constellation
Aries.
Mercury sets on the LIST soon after
half-past 7 o'clock in the evening on
the 30th he rises at halfpast 4 o'clock
in the morning.
JUPITER is evening star. If Mercu-
ry wins the first place for the number
Of incidents he contributes to enliven
the annals Of the month, Jupiterdeserves
high rank for the splcndor Of his APP
pearance in the nocturnal sky. He is
first and foremost for size and brillian-
cy among the starry host, an object
beautiful 10 behold as he makes his way
over the celestial road, followed by
his twinkling attendant, Regulus.
Planet and star keep at about
the same distance from each other
during the month, for Jupiter is in
stationary aspect and varies little in his
bearings. 1t is well to enjoy the pre-
sent beaming aspect Of the prince OF
planets. for his course tends to the
south and he is approaching the aPhe-
lion Of his orbit. Six years must in
teryene before he seemingly completes
the circle of the zodiac and comes round
again, in 1892, to perihelion and great
est northern declination.
The right ascension Of Jupiter on the
lst is Oh. Som. his declination is IL
degrees 52> north; his diameter is
40".4. and he is in the constellation
Leo.
Jupiter sets on the LIST at quarter
before o'clock in the morning on the
Both he sets few minutes before 2
O'Clock.
SATURN is evening star, and holds
his court in the western sky, having
passed the meridian before it is dark
enough for him to be visible, and sink
ing below the western horizon before
midnight, when the month commences.
He. like Jupiter, is nearly stationary
during the month.
The right ascension Of Saturn on the
lst is 5h. 12m., his decliHation is q
degrees So, his diameter is 1875, and
he is in the constellation Taurus.
Saturn sets on the LIST soon after half
past II O'Clock in the evening; on the
Both he sets about 10 O'Clock.
NEPTUNE is evening star. He is
very near the sun, and the first of the
four great planets to disappear below
the horizon.
The right ascension Of Neptune on
the LIST is 3h. lSm. his declination is
10 degrees 81 north; his diameter is
2".5, and he is in the constellation
Taurus.
Neptune sets on the LIST about half
past 9 o'clock in the evening; on the
both, he sets at l'AlEpast7 O'Clock.
URANUS is evening star. There is
nothing noteworthy in his course. He
is, on the LIST. l2m. east and 35> north
of Eta Virgins, third magnitude star
in Virgo, having changed his position
but little since his opposition. He may
still be seen with the unaided eye,
though the telescope view is more salts
factory.
The right ascension of Uranus is l2h.
2m., his dcclination is 0 degrees 80
north. his diameter is 3//.8, and he is
in the constellation Virgo.
Uranus sets on the LIST soon after
5 O'Clock in the morning; on the Both
he sets in soon after 3 O'Clock.
VENUS is morning star, though near
" lost to sight. She is very near the
sun, and will soon pass beyond the great
orb.
The right ascension Of Venus on the
LIST is Oh. ION. her declination is de-
gree 34/ north, her diameter is lO| and
she is in constellation Pisces.
Venus rises on the LIST quarter after
8 O'Clock in the morning; on the 30th
she rises a quarter before 3 o'clock.
MARS is morning star, receding
slowly from the sun, and approaching
the earth. At the end of the month
nc rises about half an hour before the
sun.
The right ascension OF Mars on the
LIST is Oh. I'm. his declination is D de-
srees ~ south his diameter is 4".2,
and he is in the constellation Pisces.
Mars rises on the LIST soon after 5
o'clock in the morning; on the Both he
rises about 1 O'Clock.
THE MOON.
The April moon fulls on the 29th at
fourteen minutes after o'clock in the
morning. The waning moon is in close
conjunction with Mars and Venus OH
the l4th-the day before her change.
She is at her nearest point to Mercury
and Neptune on the 10th, in conjunction
with Saturn on the 18th, with Jupiter
on the Odd. and with Uranus on the
Goth. The moons cOniunctions in her
| April circuit are not noteworthy, for
they are either invisible or moon and
planet are far apart as they pass on the
celestial road.
Our fair satellite, however, gets up a
charming exhibition on more south
em belt of the earth's territory be-
tween the limiting parallels OF Is de-
grees north and 80 degrees south lati.
tude. She occults the planet Venus
on the l4th at O'Clock in the after.
noon. The close conjunction occur.
ring in this vicinity, for moon aud
planet are then only g. apart. be-
comes in the more favored belt
of the earth's domain beauti.
full occultation. The slender ores.
cent. only ten hours before new moon,
occults the iairest of the stars, at thai
time nearly a rounded orb. Moon and
planet are in turn hidden in the blaze
! of sunlight. Conjunction and occulta
ton are therefore invisible to the naked
eye, and in this respect we are as vel
off as our southern neighbors. Th'
phenomenon may be observed with thu
aid Of powerful telescope, for. through
its ligh,-gathering glass, the brilliant
planet may be followed in full daylight
till she is nearly ready to pass beyond