Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-06-03
UR 4NOLOGY FOE JUNE.

II was recently announced that six tele-
scoplc comets were visible. 1t is probable,
however, that some OF these have by this
time sunk below our horizon. The comets
OF this year, or rather those holding over
from last fall have fallen wofully short of
the conspicuous roles which their observers
marked out for them and there is nothing
OF promise in the ephemerides of the two
latest discovered, known rs comets n and
b, 1886, Brooks" Professor Brooks by the
way, is rivaling Jupiter as u comet catcher.
The lrst OF these comets has about left us,
being now according to the Harvard
ephemeris, passing from the feet OF perseus
into the head OF Taurus and consequently
not rising to observation In this locality
until a. M, half an hour after the Sun
has risen (and being too low down for even
ing observatory. Comet b is well placed for
observation, being in the constellation
Cameleopardus, near the north pole OF the
heavens, which is visible all night. 1t is,
however, decreasing In brightness. The
position of this comet for June I'd is given
by the Harvard observers us right ascen-
sion, All, pom. i2s.; north declination II
3lm.; being within lSB OF the,pole.
The phases OF the Moon for June will be
New Moon, 2d,S.55 n. M; first quarter, Gth,
2.26a m; full moon, 10th, s.3S u. m. last
| quarter, 2ith, lbs u, IN.
At 4.3O p. M, of Wednesday, June 9th
| there will be u remarkably close conlunc-
| tton OF Jupiter with the Moon, which will
| be an occultHtiou south OF the parallel of
IS which crosses near Columbia, s. G..
| The United States Nautical Almanac gives
| the Washington distance ut conjunction, In
Its record OF planetary phenomena, ut one
| minute, Jupiter passing to the north of the
Moon. The margin here will be- trine
greater. This is II close enough shave TO
| promise an Interesting observation for
| which Il small telescope will be necessary
On the morning OF the 9TH, at 4.lG O'Clock,
the Moon will be within Gm. OF Mars, hut
this conjunction will not 10 visible here,
| No other June conjunction promises 10
repay observation.
Mercury will not be visible during June.
lie passes superior conjunction with the
| sun On tho llth, and becomes thereafter an
evening planet, rSachng eastern elonga-
ton on July 18TH.
About Venus there Is little to say, expect
that she still remains u morning planet and
Is steadily diminishing in brightness. ON
the morning Vi the 27th she will be very
close to Neptune. At their conjunction
a. m, the two planets will be only ~ minutes
apart with Neptune tothe north. This will be
betore they have risen, hut they may be
observed an hour or so later though n tele.
scope will he required to show Nentune
The spectacle will we'll repay the enrly
riser, If thD skies he favorable.
Mars Is now In the western part Of the
constellation lao, and Jupiter il in tkt
head OF Virgo; both being we'll placed fol
observation. Let any one go OUT this even
ing, II the weather he clear, and lool
straight overhead ut $50. Almost in tn,
zenith he will see II faint cluster of star
known as "Berenlce's Hair" This cluste
Is about midway between the enc
star In the handle Of eth
Dlpper," TO the north, and tn
planet Jupiter, to tho south. The close OH
server will notice Il small star quits close L
and southwest Of the planet. Several de
. grees to the westward Of Jupiter will b
seen the little red disc OF Mars and, IN tn
same line westward, the first magnitude
7 | stnr Regulus In the handle of "Ths Sickle,
! Mars Is gaining rapidly on Jupiter and
viii he interesting 10 watch thegap betwee
| them gradually closing up, night ate
q night, until the smaller planet overtnke
the latter, on tho early morning OF the 2stt
when the two planets will be within j c
! | each other, with Mars to the south. Durin
the race, ut I ,, IN. OF the 22d, Mars wi
pass within IL minutes of the conspicuou
star Beta Virgins. On the 9th of July Mar
4 still continuing his rapid eastward pac,
{ catches up with and pahes the plan,
, Uranus.
Saturn Is rapidly disappearing from Il
+ evening sky, reaching opposition with Il
Sun on July Sd.
Uranus is in the shoulder of Virgo, clio.
Q to and a little southeast of the star III
, Virgins.