Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-29
THE PLANETS.
BEAUTIES OF THE HEAVENS IN SEP
TEMnER.
what the Telescope Reveals : Venus IN
her Giory-saturn. z 'a7Tl nd
Jupiter.
providence Journal !

Venus IS morning star, ano, pernap''
ibe most interesting member Of the
planetary brotherhood during the
month. She is nearing the close OF her
period Of visibility as morning star, for.
after the present month closes, she will
grow dim from her distance from the
earth, ard her approaching conjunction
with the great luminary from whom
she boIrows her power TO shine. She
is, however, one Of the most beautiful
stars that gem the morning sky, even
IN her waning loneliness. Observers
who watched her course in the starlit
mornings Of August will pay tribute to
her exceeding beauty, as, in the small
hours Of the morning. she came
bounding above the eastern horl-
zon, rising with queenly grace towards
. The zenith, and shining With benignant
aspect after all the other stars had
melted away in the light Of the coming
sun. Especially was she beautiful on
tie 9th Of August, the morning alter
her close conjunction with Saturn,
when the two planets hung side by
side, and were plainly visible through
IN opera-elsss until half an hour before
sunrise. holding sovereign sway IN the
glowing dawn. Venus makes down
ward plunge in declination during the
month from leo so to a. l5/ north,
completing Der course through the con
stellation Cancer, and passing nearly
through Leo.
On the 18th at 9 o'clock in the after
noon Venus is in close conjunction with
Rsgulus or Alpha Leonis, passing
$50 north. On that morning she
rises at half-past o'clock, and will be
near Regulus, though, as frequently
happens planet and star are invisible
at the time Of conjunction.
The right ascension Of Venus, on tho
lst, is Oh. Ism, her declination is lG'
go north, her diameter is ll".2, aud
she is in the constellation Cancer.
Venus rises on the lst at a quarter
after 3 O'Clock in the morning; on the
both she rises about quarter after 4
O'Clock.
SATURN is morning star. lie is now
a prominent object in the morning sky.
rising at the beginning Of the month at
O'Clock in the morning, and making
his appearance soon after ii O'Clock
in the evening, at its close. He must
be looked for in the northeast,
and may be easily recognized by
his size, serene light, and the alb
serce Of large stars from his yicin-
ity. The increasing distance between
Saturn and Venus will be plainly per-
c.p,ble as the former planet approaches
the earth and the latter recedes from it.
But the wonder Of the system will not
be seen for many years to come under
he exceptional conditions that have
made him so much admired during the
last wear. lie is moving slowly south.
bis rings will soon begin to draw closer
around him, and his course lies farther
and farther away from the sun.
The right ascension Of Saturn on
the LIST is III. 22m., his declination Is
90 Al north, his diameter is l6N.2,
and he is in the constellation Gemlnl.
Saturn rises on the LIST at O'Clock
in the morning; on the Both he rises
at a quarter after ii O'Clock IN the
evening.
MERCURY is morning star until the
eth, when he changes TO evening star
On the ID be reaches his greatest west
ern elongation, being lS' s. west Of the
SUD. On that morning he rises an hour
and a quarter before the sun, and his
declina,ion is - farther north than that
Of the sun. Venus is northwest. ana
Regulus is southeast OF him. lie Is,
however. at nearly his minimum dis
lance from the sun at the present
elorg.tion. which makes it more dill
cult TO pick him up. This is the last
opportunity during the year for seeing
the bright little planet with the naked
eve as morning star. On the 9th, a!
IL o'clock in the afternoon, Mercury
is in superior conjunction with the
sun. and after that time ranks among
the evening stars.
The right ascension Of Mercury or
the LIST is Oh. 37m. His declinstlon Ii
l4e 10 north; his diameter is 7>>.2
and he is in the constellation Leo.
Mercury rises on the lst at quartz
before 1 o'clock in the morning. VI
the 30th he sets at half.past O'CLOCK
in the evening.
NErTUNE is morning star. lie /
travelling towards opposition, an
during the month meets with no adVen
lures by the way.
Tie right ascension Of Neptune o.
the lst is 3b. 44m. his declnation
$50 north; his diameter is go, an
he is in the constellation Taurus.
: Neptune rises on the LIST about hall
past Q o'clock in the evening; on tn
3Oth be Uses about hslf.past ! O'Clock
JUrI1ERis evening star. He is siiI
the brightest star Of the throng durin
the short time he is above the horizon
= But he hides his princely head beneat
the western hills at half-past Z o'cloc
! when the month commences, and tw
e hours earlier, almost with the SUD
when il closes. On the 9Th Jupiter
: in conjunction with the be,utiful sta
Gamma Virgins, being . south.
The right ascension Of Jupiter on tn
. lst is l2h. 32m. his declination is 2
E Ii south; his diameter is g".o, al
5 be is in the constellation Virgo.
Jupiter sets on the lst at half.past
o'clock in the evening on the Both b
5 sets a quarter before 6 o'clock.
MARS is evening star. He is stl
t family perceptible about IA southea'
r of Spica. Heis small in size, his rudd
tint has faded, and he is travelling raj
f. idly southwark. An opers-glass WI
; be an assistant in picking him up.
l The right ascension OF Mars on tn
LIST is l4h. lem. His declination is IA
49, south; his diameter is SO, an
be is in the constellation Libra.
Mars sets on the LIST at half-past
o'clock in the evening. On the 10th b
sets at hM.psst 7 O'Clock.
URANUS is evening star. lie is n
longer visible to the most far-seein
unsssisted eye, and is in the near prs
-