Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-06
STUDYING THE HEAVENS.
TEE DECEMBER PLANETS.
aha, the Telescope Reveass-sassra, veau.,
and Japiter-rhe Neon.
Providence Iournal1

Providence Journal.l
SATURN is morning star until the
os,h. when, passing to the suns east
ri, side, he becomes evening star. On
y, 26th, at 6 O'Clock in the morning.
;, is in opposition with the sun, his
,I.ce in the heavens being " opposite y
he sun, as the word implies. lie then
Uses in the east as the sun sinks in the
xes,. and adorns the sky, from sunset
"a sunrise. lie presents q grand dis.
NAV throughout the month, and thirty
te,rs must complete their slow cir-
.sit before he will again be visible in
Ms present aspect. The hour has at
lpsth come that observers have so long
desired. The beautiful planet is in op-
eosition, is only two months past peri
helion, his magnificent rings are open
70 their widest extent, and he has
usched his highest northern declina-
non. He is charming to behold with
,hs naked eye, as he makes his way
With retrograde steps among the small
sr stars of Gemini. He is surprisingly
lovely in the telescope, as he lies Graded
IN bis rings, and surrounded by the
points Of gold that reveal the presence
Of his eight satellites. These are
rd-letter-days for Saturnian astron-
Omers, who will not fail 10 improve the
opportunity for the study Of his sur
ace, especially the constitution of the
dark spaces between his rings and the
shadOwy markings on his disc. The
features Of this planets surface are of
extreme delicacy. The eye must be
practiced and Of exceptional visual
power, the telescope powerful and Of the
best make, and the atmosphere clear
and calm to give any hope Of reaching
reliable results. Some interesting
observations have been made upon
the belts during the last few op-
positions, according to Mr.. Denniag's
report in Nature" A very de-
finite narrow dark belt has bounded
The southern side Of the equator, re-
msrkable for its compact appearance,
though exhibiting no distinct spots.
One or two observers have detected
proofs of condensation. The belts
: near the pole are so faint that there is
Aoubt if they have really been seen ex-
cept in the eye of fancy. But Saturn
is twice as far away as Jupiter, and
the wonder is that even shadowy ira
ciDgs can be seen at such an i'm
mense distance. 1t is generally accept
ed that some Of the features Of the
planet are variable, and that this is the
explanation of the difference of opinion
among observers. Especially is this
the case in regard to the outer division
q the rings, which must fuctuate at
short intervals, or the evidence Of DIFF
ferent observers and different telescopes
is strangely at variance. There is not
much probability that definite results
will be reached at the present opposi-
ton, even under such favorable cOndi-
tons. But none the less should the
observation be thorough, long-con-
tnued, and close, for this is
the sole method by which the
earth can hold communication with her
brother planets, or learn anything Of
what is going on within their distant do
main. 1t is easy to recognize Saturn
as he rises in the northeast about &
o'clock on the first of the month, for
he is almost in line between Pollux
in Gemini, and Betelguese in Orion.
lie also forms an elongated triangle
with Capella and Betelguese.
The right ascension Of Saturn on the
LIST is Oh. 29m., his declination is %
degrees 90 north, his diameter is
1879, and he is in the constellation
Gemini.
Saturn rises on the LIST about 6
o'clock in the evening; on the 3lst he
sets a quarter before 7 o'clock in the
morning.
VENUS is evening star, and deserves
the highest place on the monthly record,
if beauty and brightness are alone taken
as the standard. She reaches one other
great time-marks during the month.
On the Sth, at 9 o'clock in the evening,
she is at her greatest eastern elonga-
ton, being at that time AZ degrees l9/
east of the sun. Her progress east
ward is then stayed. After remaining
stationary for few days she commences
to turn her steps westward, increasing
her pace, apparently approaching the
sun, and really approaching the earth.
There is no need to call attention
TO her lovely aspect, as, night after
night, she holds her court in the west
ern sky as queen Of the stars, now
shining amid the golden glow of the
sunset, now rejoicing in the crimson
hue that follows the steps Of the de-
parting sun, and now serenely beaming
from the azure background of the later
evening sky. One never tires of adj
miripg this beautiful star. She will
be charming as she retraces her steps
towards the sun and fine sub
lect for study in the remain
ing two months of her course as
evening star. Seen through telescope
at elongation she takes on the phase of
the moon at her last quarter. She will
quickly assume that of the waning cres-
cent as she approaches us more nearly,
increasing in size, though turning less
and less Of her illumined disc toward
us until only a thread of light is viSi-
bic Just before she passes between us
and the sun at inferior conjunction.
The right ascension Of Venus on the
LIST is lQh. 5Sm., her declination is
% degrees IS south, her diameter is
%" 6, and she is in constellation Saglt-
tarius.
Venus sets on the lst at half-past I
O'Clock in the evening on the 3lst she
sets at 81 minutes after s o'clock.
JUPITER is morning star. On the
Goth. at s O'Clock in the morning, he is
in ouadrature with the sun, being 80
degrees west Of him. His southern de-
clination will prevent his being seen
under the best aspect, but he is in fino
position for observation, notwithstsnd-
Ing this drawback. At the time of the
latest telescope observations before the
conjunction Of Jupiter, the famous red
spot which had nearly disappeared
showed unmistakable evidences Of &C
tiyity. The eIlipse grew darker, as OBJ
IN. n.c,,no tha cant ai liOht