Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1886-03-31
THE PLANETS IN APRIL.

/ THE PLANETS IN APRIL.
Jupiter is evening star throughout the
month He ranks first on the planetary re-
cord for April on account of the brilliancy
of his appearance aud the length of time he
remains above the horizon-almost from
sunset to sunrise. The bright planet is now
travelling from opposition 10 quadrature
| He charges little in size or brilliancy, though
his distance from the earth is increasing and
he is approaching the sun. The starry
curve, or arc, formed by Regulus, Mars, Jupi.
ter and Spica which may be traced in the early
evening, seems TO span the sky from horizon
to zenith. Jupiter rises On the lst about
five o'clock in the afternoon, an hour before
sunset, so that he comes into view at the
earliest moment when it is dark enough for
the brightest stars to pierce the depths. He
is the first to appear, and leads the starry
host with stately step.
Mars is evening star. His proximity to
Jupiter affords fine opportunity for study
ing 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 observation, being not
long past opposition
Venus is morning star. She charmingly
fulfls the duties of her present role, and
will reward the early riser for the effort re-
quired to behold her bright face. The fair
est of the stars is, however, growing dim to
human eyes as she rapidly lulfls her course
Though more and more Of her illuminated
disc is turned toward the earth, her in.
creasing distance more than counterbalances
the additional! light, and her luster grows
din, Nonx, ~, o,t Mill ,,aco bafora oh ia
again seen in her best estate.
Neptune is evening star. He is near the
end OF his course on tho eastern side of the
terest. He is just now an object Of unusual
importance, for the search for the trans.
Neptunian planet takes on more tangible
form. 1t is we'll known that when Uranus
was considered the outermost planet of the
system, certain disturbances in his move
ments could ouly be accounted for on
the suppostiior that another planet
must exist far outside Of the Ura.
uian borders. hIathcmaticians went so
far as TO mark out the spot in the
sky where the planet would be found, and
close beside the spot indicated Neptune ap-
peared, differing only from the faint stars
around him by the possession of disc.
Similar !ncongruities have been found in
the movements Of Neptune indicating the
existence Of still another planet, which, on
account Of lis amazing distance, it will be a
work of iniiuite labor 20 pick UP. Here is a
chance iui ~, aspiring amateur 10 make a
discovery ha; sill iMmortalize his name.
For :. n.W planet added to the SUMS family
is al event cf surprising interest, by the side
Of whic:i i.ei: comets and asteroids by the
hundreds are oI nc account.
Saturn is evening star. He makes bril-
liant appearance III the western sky, and
may h" found nearly midway between Cas-
tor aud Poiiux Oh the northeast aud Betel-
guese Gn Eo southwest. He has resumed
direct motion since the 1st of March, is re-
tracing lis steps and is agein approaching
Mu Gemirorum, tie third. magnitude star
tLat he was in conjunction with on the 10th
of Januar:.
Uranus is evening star, and is still near
enough TO Jupiter TO be easily found with
the telescope, and is nearly III his best po-
sition f.. being seen with the naked eye.
The planet mus. he looked for almost at an
equal distance from the stars Gamma and
Eta Virgins, the only bright stars in the
neighbcrhood. Unauus s little farther
south.
Mercury is evening star until the Sth,
when he joins Venus in the morning sky.
On the Sth, at eleven o'clock in the evening,
he is in interior conjunction with the sun.
After that time Venus and Mercury are
morning stars; Neptune, Saturn, Mars, Ju-
piter and Uranus are evening stars
The moon iulls on the 18th, and is in con.
junction with Mercury ON the 4th, with Sat-
urn on the 10Th, and with Jupiter on the
10th, but this latter conjunction will not be
visible, though Jupiter and the moon ap-
preaching conjunction will form lovely
picture on the celestial canvas. On the 30th,
seven minutes after midnight, the moon and
Venus are in close panionship, the moon
being 19> south of The planet. The waning
crescent and the bright morning star will be
near each other when they rise on the
morning of the 30th, and their course can
be followed even in the sunshine by those
gifted with good visual power, the moon
serving as guide to the position of the
planet.-Proridence Journal