Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-05-19
JuPITER's OUTER COVERING

JUPITERS OUTER COVERING.
1t is unfortunate that the path of the
planet is not two minutes of arc further
| north, at the present time than it really is !:
for an occultation of the star by the planet
would have been an exceedingly interest
ing event; and would have been studied
with the greatest care from every available
observatory.
Some five or six years ago the occultation
by the planet Jupiter of a small star in the
constellation Gemini was announced. and
was studiously awaited; but the weather
was very unfavorable, and only one or two
observations, not entirely satisfactory at
that, were obtained.
If Jupiter has an,outer covering of atmos-
phere, perhaps bright star might be seen
| through II at such time and at all events
the sharpness of the disappearance behind
one edge, and temperance at the other. or
the contrary effect, if carefully observed,
| might lead to some satisfactory conclusions
about the atmosphere of that distant planet.
A star when occulted by the moon, disap-
| pears and reappears instantaneously. and
| with suddenness that is absolutely start
| ling. But then we know that the moon has
| no atmosphere whatever; the phenomenon
| just noted is one of the proofs thereof A
| star occulted by Jupiter might be expected
to fade away slowly, from being slowly
! UiuilSu ny Tue Planet . atmosphere, II, III
deed, 1t We're not seen for time through
the body of the planet, as has been already
suggested
THE POSITION ON SUNDAY.
: Two pages of the American Ephemeris
and Nautical Almanac of each year ale
taken up with a list of what are called
Planetary Consultations" to take place
during the year for which the Almanac is
issued. These are copjunctions, opposi-
tons, ETC., of the various planets, with the
moon, sun, and among themselves; ap-
proaches of the different plants to bright
stars and all such phenomena. Consulting
this list for the present year, we find it
stated that on May goth, at 10 P. NJ,
Washington mean time, the planet Jupiter
will be only two minutes of arc distant
from the brighter component of the double
Beta Sc0rpii." 1t will also be found that
this event is the most Interesting one of
the kind recorded during the year; in fact
1t is quite an infreauent occurrence to have
any one of the planets so close to star of
this magnitude, as to be within the same
field Of the telescope; 10 P. M, Washington
mean time corresponds to P. NJ, at this
longitude; and as the planet does not rise
here until about 7:20 P. NJ, the two objects
will not be quite so close as they will seem
TO the observers on the other side of this
Continent.
But the change will be very small DUR
ing the interval; Jupiter and the star will
be so close that the sharpest eye will not
distinguish them without optical aid and
in the telescope the bright star and its
lesser companion will seem almost like
two additional satellites of Jupiter, only
situated to the north of the planet, instead
OF in the equatorial line, east and west, as
the actual satellites will be found to be.
All four Of JupiteT's we'll known attendants
will be visible on that evening; at 8 P. NJ
San Francisco standard time, the relative
| positions will be about as follows: Satel-
| lites Nv and III will be to the west of the
planet, ~ nearly at the greatest elonga-
| ton, and Ill about one diameter distant
from the edge; l and II will be on the east
| side, at successive distances of about two
diameters of the planet and in the order
! named. They will be, as always, strung
| out in line-not due east and west of Jupi-
ter, but about in the prolongatIon of the
planets equa 'orial belts. The whole pict-
ure will be very beautiful and interesting.