Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1885-02-03
THE PLANETS IN FEBRUARY.

abridged from the Providence journal
Jupiter is morning star until the 18th,
when he changes his role, and Decom Ing
evening star takes on his most glorious
form. At opposition, Jupiter comes into
line with the earth and the sun, the earth
heing in the middle, so that we are at our
nearest point to him, and he is larger aud
more brilliant than at any other time. The
magnificent planet holds his state as far
away from the sun as possible, rising proud
" in the east as the sun sinks slowly in the
west, reaching the zenith with stately step.
as the sun touches the nadir, and gradually
fading out of sight in the west as the sun
appears rejoicing in the east.
Mars is evening star until the l1lh, when
he takes his turn in joining the morning
stars On the 1lth, at seven O'Clock in the
morning, he is in conjunction with the sun,
reversing the role played by his brother
planet Jupiter thus illustrating the Two
most important epochs in the revolution OF
the outer planets. conjunction and oppo-
siion. Mars is :hen in line with
the sun aud the earth, but with the sun in
the middle, being TO terrestrial observation
beyoud the sun and as far from the earth
as possible He i al the same time III con,
junction or coined to- the sun, rising ana
setting with the sun, and completely hidden
from mortal view in bis bright beams.
Mars sitter conjunction, passes to The
su.'s western side, commeUCes his course
AS morning STAR and his slow progress to-
wards opposition, which he will not reach
till March, 1856. For months TO come he
will be OF little account, insignificant IN
size and close to the sun; indeed, he never
counts for much, excepting for month be-
fore and a month after opposition. while
oppositions specially favorable occur only
at intervals OF fifteen years. In 1892 it may
be discovered that his TWO tiny moons, first
known to this planet i'll 1877, are nothing
but escaped asteroids that unwisely strayed
within the resistless force of Marian ut
traction.
Neptune is morning star during the
month. He reaches All important time
mark in his course On the Sth, at nine
o'clock in the evening, he is in quadrature
with the sun on his eastern side, half his
course from opposition TO conjunction being
completed.
! Venus is morning star. Her lustre grows dim,
an her size diminishcs as sho draws nearer the
sun and rises later every morning But she is
still beautiful to behold sho makes her appear
ance in the morning dawn an hour before sun
rise
Mercury is morning star. His path lis near
that of Venus during tho whole month. tie makes
his transit on the first five minutes before Venus,
on the 18th at the same time, aud Oh the 2Sth he
passes the meridian twenty-four minutes later
thau his failcr neighbor. lie is in conjunction
with Venus On the l1th
Saturn is evening star Though he contributes
no incident to cnliven the annals Of the month,
he takes the second place among the starry hosts
tnas stud the winter sky, remaining through tho
month in q position so nearly stationary that he
might be mistaken for one of the distant suns
that beam from tho star.depths. A careful OBJ
server will, however notice the softness and
serenity of his light in striking contrast with the
twinklng of his companions. This is the proof
that he is only a planet, shining, like the GARTH
by light reflected from the sun.