Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-11-03
ASTRONOMICAL.
Neptune, Saturn. Jupiter, Mercury, IRA
nus. and venw-The Koon-0c-
cultatiozs-Meteors.
Providence Journal,


yember annals, for he reaches during the
month the most important epoch in bis
course rs far ~ terrestrial observation IL
concerned. On the 18th, at 2 O'Clock In the
afternoon, he Is IN opposition with the sun.
AT that time he Ia directly opposite the sun,
81 the term Opposition " implies, rising
In the east az the sun sets in the west. He
Is then nj his nearest point 10 the earth, our
little globe lying directly between him anu
the sun. A superior planet Ike Neptune
al opposition IL under the most favorable
aspect for observation. IL reaches the
meridian at midnight, il visible during the
entire night, and something new concern
ing planets may always be expected du.
ring this Tari Of their course. Thus the
moons OF Mars were discovered at thu
planets opposition In 1877. Neptune,
therefore. during the month. Is under his
best conditions for telescopic work. He
must be looked for shout 60 south OF the
Plciades. With a good telescope and
q clear atmosphere the most distant
planet that Obeys our central sun
may be easily found, when his place
IL accurately noted. Among the sur
rounding stars. which are always bright
points in the most powerful instruments,
tiny sphere will suddenly leap into being
Of a pale-blue color. This is far-away
Neptune, a charming telescope object, and
well worth the trouble Of patient inyesti-
CATION. 1t requires powerful instrument
and a pracliced eye to bring ont his one
tiny satellite that dots the sky with point
Of gold hanging close to the primary.
We have faith that before the nineteenth
century closes some keen-sighted astrOnO-
mer will win the bonor OF adding an ultra
Neptunian panetto the brotherhood.
The right ascension OF Neptune on the
1st is 3h. 40m., his declination is 17' ~
north. his diameter is 2'|.G, and he Is in the
constellation Taurus.
Neptune rises on the ist about hilf-past
) O'Clock in the evening; on the Both he
sets quarter before 6 O'Clock in the morn
ing.
Saturn is morning star throughout the
month. lie is now finely situated for OBJ
s,ryation. rising at the beginning OF the
month about 9 O'Clock and at the close
about O'Clock m the evening. He shines
with = serene hight, and may be readily
found late in the evening in the north
east, having changed his position but
little from that Of last month. The twin
stars, Castor and POlluX. are north OF
him, and the red star Procyon Is on the
the ringed wonder OF the system in the
small hours Of the morning during OctO-
Der. Saturn and the brilliant groups sur
rounding him made a fine celestial picture,
that amply rewarded the effort required to
behold II. saturn now holds 4 decided
advantage over Jupiter and Venus for
northern observers, on account OF his high
northern decinatOn, which keeps him
longer above the horizon. This beautiful
planet, that has been moving for several
months in direct or eastward course. be-
comes stationary on the Sd, and then COM
mCnces to retrOgTade. or move westward.
The right ascension Of Saturn on the LIST
il IN. 37m.. his dcclinatiOp j. 2l' II. his
diameter is 1877, and he j. in the c0nstella-
tion Gemini
saturn ri,es on the 1St at quarter after
Q O'Clock in the evening; on the 3)th he
rises at quarter after O'Clock.
JUPITER Is morning star, and Is RAPIDLY
reaching point far enough from the sun
10 make him beautiful 10 behold a. the
dawn breaks. He rises on the lst more
than an hour before the sun. and must then
he looked for in the southeast about %
north Of Spicl. II i impossible 10 mis-
take him foy any other star II the observer
have position commanding the south
eastern horizon, and commences his quest
an hour before sunrise. Even at his pres
cut small distance from the sun he As
serts hi, sovereignty, aud shines rs II he
were small sun himself, when il is re-
memLcrod that his light reaches liz from
point nearly five hundred million miles
distant. The special work OF Mr.. BiggS,
an Australian astronomer, l. TO compare
the light emitted by Jupiter with that OF
the moon. The difference in the light Of
the two bodies Is very slight. that OF jill
pitcr being little less luminous. \ greater
difference would naturally be expected. for
jupiter receives twcnty-seyen times les
solar light than the moon. This expert
mcnt supports the theory that Jupiter
shines partly by inherent light.
The right ascension Of Jupiter on the 1t
/, l3h. 20m.. hi, declinltiOn i, = - south.
bis diameter is 29".4, and he /, in the con-
stc,llton Virgo.
Jupiter rises on the 1T quarter before
O'Clock in the morning; on the 3Oth be
ises about a quarter after o'clock.
MERCURY i evening star. ON the 18th. At
! O'Clock in the evening, he reaches hl'
greatest eastern clOngltiOn, being 22' 81
east Of the sun. Although nearly at his
maximum distance. his great southern de-
GllnaIlOn 4
for northern observers, but very easy
object for southern Observers. Ii is hI>
last appearance IN the western sky for the
wear. when there /, a possibility Of his be-
ing picked up by the naked eve. On the
18th be i about 3 east OF AntareS, the
bright star helping to show hi, place In
the heavens. He i in conjunction with
Delta Scorpi on the 81. with Beta Scorpii
IN 4 ttta 40
will he noticed that Uranus, Jupiter, We
nus, Mercury, and Mars are all in south
crn declnation. .taying only Neptune and
Saturn IN northern declination.
The right ascension u Mercury on the
1T is 15h. Am, his declination i 22o TO-
south. his diameter is j".i, and he is in the
constellation ScOrpi0.
Mercury sets on the lSt about hilf-pa,t
; O'Clock in the afternoon; on the 30th he
| set. about hali-plst O'Clock.
URANUS is morning star. He may be
traced about % south Of Gamma Virgins
and i approaching the earth.
The right ascension OF Uranus on the
! lst i l2h. SIN. hi declinltion i 3 -
.outh, bIs diameter i, 3".J|, and he Is in
| the constellation Virgo.
! Uranus rises on the 1T nj quarter be-
| fore O'Clock in The morning; on the 3Oth
| he rises soon after o'clock.
VENUS i morning star. but almost in her
owest estate, for she VIII be visible only
| for a few DAYS at the commencement OF
! the month. after which her lesser light Will
| be- hidden in the rays Of the sun, into
whose near precincts she has entered. The
morning sky will lose Us greatest adorn-
mcnt when the furcst OF the stars ceases
| 10 keep watch and hail the presence OF the
| rising sun.
The right ascension Of Venus on the 1T
| /, 18Th. j1m.. her declinatlon Is lO' ~
.ouih, her diameter i, ~, and she Is IN the
! constellation Virgo.
Venus Uses on the lSt about half-past j
o'clock m the morning; on the 3Oth she
| rises about O'Clock.
| MARS /, evening star. He sets about two
| hours after the SUI, but he l. 50 far awiv'
- mail. and so far south that he might
| almost be blO;tcd from the sky and not be
| missed by the ordinary observer. Al tue
| close Of the month Saturn, Uranus, Jnpi-
| ter. and Venus are morning stars. Mars.
| Mercury, and Neptune are evening stars.
The right ascension Of Mars on the III l.
| lib. l3m.; his decinatiOn is p s. south,
his diameter is 81, and he i in the conStel-
| ,ation Scorpio.
Mars sets on the 1T at garter before :
o'clock IN the evening: on The 3)ih be sct'
about bai-past q O'Clock.
THE MOON.
| The November moon fulls on the llth az