Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-02
APRIL PLANETS.
Whatthe Telescope viii Bevsal-fcsition'
and Movements Of the Prin'
cipal Planets.
providence Journal.l


JUPITER IL evening star throughout
the month. He ranks first on the
planetary record for April on account
Of the brilliancy Of his appearance and
the length Of time he remains above the
horizon, almost from sunset TO sunrise.
The bright planet is now travelling
from opposition to quadrature. lie
changes little In size or brilliancy,
though his distance from the earth is
increasing and he is approaching the
sun. We call attention again to the
starry curve or arc, consisting OF
Regulus, Mars, Jupiter, aud Spica. IL
may now be easily traced and in the
early evening seems to span the SKY
nom horizon to zenith. The distances
between the starry points give good
idea Of celestial measurement. On the
lat the distance between Regulus aud
Mars is 0 degrees 80; the distance be-
tween Mars aad Jupiter is about 20 de-
erees; the distance between Jupiter
and Spica is about 10 degrees. The
giant OF the system is now in fine posi-
ton for observation and will continue
so during the month. lie rises on the
lst about 5 o'clock in the afternoon,
an hour before sunset, so that he comes
into view at the earliest moment when
il is dark enough for the brightest stars
to pierce the depths. lie is the first to
appear, and leads the starry host With
stately step. His position is almost
due east and observers who glance at
the eastern sky in the early twilight
will need no directions for detecting his
prcsence neither will they be surprised
that ancient astronomers honored this
beautiful planet with the name OF i'm
perial Jove.
A celestial phenomenon will be visit
bic on the planet Jupiter and his satel-
lites that will excite intense interest
among Jovian astronomers, il there be
any there to witness it. The planet
Mars and bis two tiny moons, on the
18Th, will make transit across the suns
disc. Mars then, as seen from Jupiter,
will be in inferior conjunction, and at
or near one Of his nodes. There
fore he will cross the suns disc,
lust as Venus did in 1882, when her
transit was observed on this planet.
The phenomenon is governed by the
same laws. but the conditions are differ
ent. In the present case Jupiter and
Mars are actors in the scene in the
latter case the earth and Venus were
the actors in an event that will never
be forgotten by those who beheld 1t.
But there is hardly possibility that
the chaotic mass Of our gigantic bro
Their is in q condition to support even
the lowest forms Of animate life.
Many transits Of Mars must pass
unseen before intelligent eyes will be-
hold them from Jovian borders, and
telescopes far more powerful than those
used by terrestrial observers will be re-
auired to reveal the Marian moons
when viewed from that distant stand
point. II is not impossible that the
Jovian satellites have reached period
Of development when life, both physical
and intellectual, is at its eliminating
point, and inhabitants fitted to the sur
rounding conditions may delight in
studying the wonders of the heavens.
The right ascension Of Jupiter on the
LIST is I2h. lm., his declination is | de-
gree So north, his diameter is 49,,
and he is in the constellation Virgo.
Jupiter sets on the LIST soon after .
O'Clock in the morning on the 30th ne
sets a few minutes after O'Clock.
MARS is evening star. His proximity
to Jupiter affords fine opportunity for
studying the distinguishing features of
the two planets. Mars is ruddy in hue,
Jupiter is the color of pale gold. They
are both In excellent position for OBJ
servation, being not long past opposi-
ton. Jupiter is the brighter and larger,
his diameter being on the first AZ" and
that of Mars being 1878. While
there will be perceptible change in the
lustre Of Mars before the month
closes, Jupiter will shine with scarcely
q diminution of his brightest phase.
The apparent contrasts are, however,
as nothing to the real contrasts between
the two members Of the solar fraternity.
The one is the smallest Of the primary
planets excepting Mercury. The other
is sphere Of gigantic proportions, ex-
ceeding in volume many times that OF
all the other planets combined. The
one is the fourth planet in the order
Of distance from the sun, and our
nearest outside neighbor. The other
is the fifth from the sun, and the
nearest Of the four giant plan
cts. The one has mean distance from
the sun of al 100000 miles. The
other reyolves around the great central
orb at a mean distance of 4S0, 100000
miles. The one has probably passed
its period of physical perfection. In
the other the primeval fires still burn.
A study of these facts will greatly in
crease the interest in the two planets
whose brilliant light and prominent po-
eition in the heavens increase the beauty
of the starlit nights and win tributes Of
admiration from all beholders.
The right ascension Of Mars on the
LIST is l0h. 40m., his declination is | |
degrees So north, his diameter is
1878, and he is in the constellation
Leo.
Mars sets on the lst at half-past 4
O'Clock in the morning; on the Both he
sets at half-past . O'Clock.
VENUS is morning star. She charm
ipgly fulflls the duties of her present
role, and will reward the early riser for
the effort required to behold her bright
face. We had fine view Of her about
half an hour before sunrise not Ions
since. The heavens were ahame with
the glory Of the coming sun. The sky
was Ike molten gold, blended will
belts Of crimson hue, when Venus
flashed suddenly from the tremu
lous brightness, and was fair t,
see az she played hide and see'
behind the intervening network o
tree twigs and branches that now hiC
her entirely from view, now partially
concealed her beamipg rays, and no7
at rare intervals left her to shine in tn,
perfection Of loneliness. The fsirest o
the stars is, however, growing dim 4
human eyes as she rapidly fultlls hel
course. Though moro and more Of hel