Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1886-08-05
URANOL0GY FOE A UG UsT.

The phases of the Moon for August are
First quarter, 9th, 4.06 pm. full Moon l4th,
Lap. M; last quarter, 22d, 2.4l p, m; new
Moon, 29th, z "a q. m.
On the early morning of August 23d, the
Moon will again occult the fourth magnt-
tude stars Theta l and 2 Taurl and the
first magnitude star Aldebaran, The oceu-
lation OF Theta will take place at 80 n.
M, that of its companion Ave minutes later.
Aldebaran will be occulted at 6.01 a. m.
The Moon will make another very close
conjunction with Jupiter at 4.49 on the al
ternoon of the Sd, the planet passing m.
south OF the Moons limb.
There will be total eclipse of the Sun on
the 29th, visible here, weather permitting
as partial eclipse. Mr.. Cleveland Keith
has computed the following data for this
eclipse at Philadelphia, from which the data
for Wilmington will not vary materially;
Beginning of eclipse, 3m. 2lsec. after a..
m. end Of eclipse, 46m. 5lsee. after a. IN.
magnitude OF eclipse about one-twelfth Of
the Suns diameter. The path OF total eclipse
| begins on the Isthmus OF Panama, (whsre
the Sun will rise at the middle OF the
eclipse, passes along the northern const Of
| South America and over the southern islands
| of the Lower Antilles group, across the
| Atlantic passing southwark Of the Cape de
- - I y III G't'-7f eaGst, striking
! Africa at Behguela and passing obtiquey
| across thai continent TO SoialH, nenE the
| mouth vi tue npinuusu IiSer anu euulng
with the middle OF the eclipse at sunset II
southern Madagascar. The duration o
totality will vary, according to Location
along this path, from SIN. 22sec. to en- .33sec
the maximum observable duration being
about Am. 40sec., at or near San Felipe III
Benguela.
Merclry has now nearly hidden himself
from sight In the light OF the setting Sun
| To fnfartnr continuation fhi
morning Of the 10th, becoming thereafter
morning planet and as such may be VISIBLE
when approaching elongation during tn
closing mornings Of August He will then b.
not unfavoIably placed as far as declinatiol
as concerned, but his disc 9nd his distanc
from the Sun will be comparatively small
Mercury will be In close conjunction (onl
lam to the north) with the waning Moo
at AT a. m. on the 2Sth, an approach tina
will be interesting to observe.
Venus Ia steadily approaching the ristnl
Sun and diminishing In brillianey. sh
passes very close to Saturn at 10 o'clock O
the morning OF the 8th, the planets bein
only I'm. apart at their conjunction.
Mars Is growing smaller by degrees an
beautifully less as the time OF his departur
from the evening sky draws higher.
Jupiter will be getting quite low In tn
west by sunset on August 31st. he Is NOV
ing across the constellation Virgo, followln
so nearly In the track OF Uranus that tn
two planets will be only 32s. apart, wit
Jupiter to the north, Mt their coplunctio
on the 10Th inst.
Saturn Is now a morning planet an
growing In brilliancy as he falls farther b,
!, hind the rising Sun. He will again glo
brightly In November skies, but no
with the measure Of light he gave at h
last opposition, when his ring system WI
opened more widely than II will be agai
for IA years to come.
Uranus and the Moon will be In conjun
J ton on the evening of the Sd (planet
so m. south) and Of the morning Of the 81
(planet % to the south).
! Neptune is In quadrature with the Sun q
| tho Oflfh