Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-10-03

the lat ia 3h. 43m., his declination Is
I7o So north, his diameter Is 2".6.
and no ia in the constellation Taurus.
Nen,une rises on the LIST soon after
b,Icp,st 7 o'clock In the evening; on
the 3Ist he rises . quarter before 6
o'clock.
THE MOON.
The October moon fulls on the 10Th,
NJ Ion. 24m. p. NJ. On the LIST the
fonr.dsys.old moon is in conjunction
with Mars at 4h. gem. A. NJ, being G.
IL north. Not planet Is again near
Der path until the 18th, three days az
fer The full. when she pays her respects
70 NEPTUNE. a, Sh. 36m. P. NJ, being at
the time g. "a south. On the 20th.
the day of her last quarter, she IS in
conjunction with Saturn at On. I'm. 4.
NJ beng 80 l6' south. On the 25th
sbe is at her nearest point to Uranus at
sb. SIM. A. NJ, being . Is north.
On The Goth, one day before
her charge, she is in conjunction
with Jupiter at III. 30m. A. NJ
being % 35' north. On the same day.
about eighteen hours before new moon,
she is in conjunction with Venus at 1h.
som. A. NJ. being g SO north. On
The 2Sth the new moon, little m)re
than one day old. ia in conjunction with
Mercury at III. Aim. A. NJ, being -
4porib. On the Both the moon has
swung round the circuit and advanced
far enough in her orbit to come into
CONJUNCTION with Mars for the second
time at 5h. I'm. A. NJ, being g. g.
north. The moon and planet are in
conjunction when they are in the same
risht ascension or lOngitude-thst is,
when the centre Of the moon and the
centre Of the planet are in line.
But moon aud planet are often
several degrees north or south of
each other, and their proximity
depends upon the amount Of this dis-
tspce. The moon when in conjunction
with Mars on the LIST is in the same
right ascension, but is g. IL north Of
tie planet, so that the two heavenly
bodies are separated By wide space OF
bluo sky. Sometimes at conjunction
they are but few seconds north or
south Of each other, and there is an
spuulse between them. Some times
they are exactly in the same right a.
cepsion or longitude, and in the same
decliDation or latitude. The moon then
occults the plsnet, as has been the case
with Jupiter, eight times during the
present year.
THE SUN.
The amateur astronomer will find a
source Of unfailing interest in observing
the apparent movements of the sun.
Duling October the days continue to
lessen rapidly. On the first the sun
rises at 5h. Aim. A. N. and sets at On.
2Gm. P. NJ, making the length Of the
dsy llh. 45m. On the BIS: the sun
rises at Oh. II A. NJ. and sets at 4h.
SSm. p. NJ, making the length of the
day len. 3lm. The amount Of the days
decrease in October is therefore In.
2lm. Thus on the last day OF the month
the DAYS are nearly en- hour and half
shorter than they were stits commence
ment. 1t is not strange that the re-
mark is often made, " How sh0i, the
DAYS ere :"
The SUMS position in the heavens
gives another indication Of tho seasons
advance. Observers will readily note
that The sunrise and sunset points seem
to move rapidly sOutbEard. On The
1st tho suns declination is 80 q
south on the 3lst it is 40 lG| south.
The sun, therefore, advances To- 80 o.
his southern course during the month.
The farther the sun moves TO the
south, the shorter is the circuit be
mskes IN the heavens, and the less is
his meridian altitude. The days will
decrease, the sunrise and sunset points
move south and the sun will each day be
lower in the boayens until the winter
sslstice, when tho sun reaches his ex-
IRENE southern declination and turns
bis face slowly northwaFd. Those who
watch closely the movements Of the
greatlvminary, so complex in appear
snce, so simple in reality, will more
fully comprehend bis sovereign sway
over the brotherhood Of planets, who
shine in his borrowed light, yield IN
swervipgly TO his all-po werful inau-
ence, ard reflect every pulsstion Of his
huge mass.