Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-05-30
ASTRONOMICAL.
ALL ABOUT THE HEAVENLY BODIES
FOR JUNE.
The Run and Positions Of the Principal
flanets-Jupiter. Uranus, 3D.
turn, and the Noon.
fprov,ssnce Jourra,.1

flanets-Jupiter, uranus, 81
turn, and the Noon.
Providence Journal
MARS ~ evening star. lie wins the first
| place in the June planetary list, because his
course Is diversified with more incidents
than that OF any other member Of the suns
family. lie Is in qusdrature, on the suns
eastern side on the 10th. exactly at mid
night, being the leader OF the three planets
that reach the same goal during The month.
| Al quadratuTe he Is 900 east OF the sun,
looks down from the meridian at sunset,
and sets at midnight. Mars is now moving
eastward, or In the order OF the signs
az the zodiac, or In direct motion,
for these three forms OF express
sion all mean the same thing when
applied TO the movement OF the planets. As
the rudy member Of the brotherhood pur-
sues his wandering way on the celestial
path be encounters Beta Virgins, a star OF
| the second magnitude, In the constellation
| Virgo. Planet and star are In conjunction
on the 22d. sc ! O'Clock in the evening, Mars
| being only 13f south at the time. The con-
! junction will not be visible, rs II occurs
| before sunset, but when Il Is dark enough
| for the actors in the celestial scene 10 make
! on appearance in the sky the star will be
| found on the west Of the planet, and not
far away. A mere interesting couiunc-
| ton occurs on the 18th, at 3 O'Clock In the
morning, for at that time Mars and Jupi-
| ter are in conjunction, Mars being so
south. Unfortunately, 8 O'Clock in the
morning is not favorable for observation,
! as the planets are below the horizon at the
time. On the evening OF the 9th, how
ever, they will be near neigbboTs, and on
! the evening Of The 2Sth there will be posi-
/ tive proof that the phenomenon has taken
place, for Jupiter will be found shining
brightly on the west OF Mars, instead OF on
the east, where lie has been seen for many
months.
Thus, within the space Of six days, Mars
will meet and pass both Beta Virgins and
Jupiter. The starry curve that has adorned
the heavens through the winter and spring
nights has changed in the position OF its
members. Regulus, Jupiter, Mars. and
Spica is now the order OF the shining
points. But the sky wOuid be monotOnOus
without the meetings and parting that con-
stanfly diversity the scene. Mars was not
at bis nearest approach TO the earth at his
laie opposition, on the 9th Of March. lie
was near enough. however, 70 allow Obsery-
ers with powerful telescopes 70 obtain
gImpses OF his two tiny moons, DeimOs
and Phobos, TIE smallest heavenly bodies
yet known.
The right ascension OF Mars on the 1st IS
1lh. ION. his declination is GO 2j/ north.
his diameter is S.//S. and he is in the con-
stellatiOn Leo.
Mars sets nthe LIST about q halfhour after
midnight: on the 30tb, he sets few min
u,es after IL O'Clock in the evening.
Jupiter is evening star. lie is but eight
DAYS behind Mars in teaching Iuldrature,
which gives proof OF the nearness Of the CO.
lCstial brothers. lie arrives OF quadrature,
on the suns eastern side, on the 18th, at 3
O'Clock in the morning. on that date he
may be seen, high in the heavens above us,
n soon after sunset rs his light can pierce
the star-depthS, and be will appear first
upon the darkening sky, for he l.. TO human
eve. the brightest % the myriad ihrong that
studs the heal ems with shining points. one
iies when looking at him a il he were in
the presence chamber OF sovereign OF the
skiCs.
The most noticeable event Of the month
is the approach Of Jupiter and Mars. On
the 1st they are 90 apart. On the 18th
they meet and change places. Both
piancts are moving eastward, but Mars
moves the faster and Oyer;akes Jupiter
Every one interested in planetary aspects
should observe this approach. for il IS an
excellent study in the apparent move
ment OF our wandering brothers. The
two planets can be recognized by glance
at the western sky in the evening. The
exhibition is free TO all, takes place at
convenient time, and requires neither
telescope nor preparation for It's full en-
ioymcnt. We have already described the
conjunction 81 the two planets, which oc-
ours on the 2Sth. The famous red spot on
Jupiter that has been visible since 1873
seems now TO he in crCasing In brightness,
Judging from the report OF an observer IN
raen. This observer is the owner OF an
xccllent telescope 81 five inches aperture.
or three wears he has sought IN vain to
ctain view 81 the red spot with this III
trument. But he has recently succeeded.
nd had several satisfactory views OF this
wonderful feature on the giant planets
lisc.
The right ascension OF Jupiter on the
1T /, 1Ih. ISM; his dcclina,ion il 20 49,
north. his diameter GG."S, and he is in the
constellation Virgo.
.upitcr sets on the lst at O'Clock In the
morning: on the 3lst he sets soon after IL
O'Clock in the evening.
and Jupiter. takes his turn in reaching
quadIature This epoch in his course takes
place on the 18th at O'Clock in the MORN
ing. II is something unusual for three
planets 10 be in quadraturc on the same
SIDE Of the sun, so nearly ut the same time,
end i. shows how close they are TO each
other. ON the last day Of the month Jupi-
ter makes his transit at twenty minutes
ei;cr O'Clock IN the evening. Mars follows
three minutes later. and Uranus takes his
tuTn seventeen minutes later than Mars.
on the same evening Mars and jupiter set
within two minutes Of each other, and
Uranus follows eleven minutes later.
The right ascension OF Uranus on the lst |
Is l2b. lam. his dcclination is % 4G/ south, |
his diameter i 8. rs, aud he Is in The con-
stel'ation Virgo.
Uranus SETS en- the 1T at a quarter after
! O'Clock in the morning; on the Both he |
sets a, tWenty.One minutes after ii O'Clock |
in the evening.
SATURN i, evening star, and be Is so
near The sun that his period OF visibility
will end about the middle OF the month.
His absence fro n the evening SKY Will be
greatly incurred, for he las been one or |
its shining adornments since January.
lie will be visible again as morning s;ar |
in September. For many years to come,
when he rcappelrs d evening" star, 4 |
change will take place in his
a>rcct. lis light Will grow dim. his 'ize |
viii diminish, and fifteen years hence we !
Shall scarcely recognize in the murGy,
iil-omened star the superb planet which, |
for the last four wears. has shown with 4
bcaming lustre in our sky. Nearly thirty /
years must pass before this wonder OF the |
system will again De In periheli)n, IN his |
highest northern declinaliOn, and display |
lis rings open TO their widest extent. When |
That time comes the twentieth century will |
fud place On the chronological record, and |
q new generation Of Observers will take the |
place Of those who are now studying the |
stars, for twenty five years measures the |
span Of the astronomers best visual pow
trs.
The right ascension OF Saturn o1 the lst /
Oh. 34m.; his declination is 22s - north, |
is diameter is 1878, aud he is in the con-
stellatiOn GemiDi.
Saturn sets on the 1st about o O'Clock in |
The evening; on the SOth he sets abolt I
O'Clock.
MERCURY Is morning star until the llth,
when he joins the evening stars. On the
nth, at 10 O'Clock In the evening, he Is IN /
superior conjunction with the sun, and
masses TO his eastern side TO run bis swift
race rs evening star. On the 10th, moving |
eastward from the sun, he meets Saturn
IT,.