Wichita eagle., 1888-06-01
THE PLANETS FOR JUNE.

| Mercury continues as evening star dur
| ing the month. 1t is in conjunction with
| the moon on the 11th, and reaches its
greatest eastern elongatiOn from the sun
on the 18th. Some persons have the mis-
taken notion that there is known planet
between Mercury and the sun. Mercury S
movements are disturbed by some un-
known force, and astronomers, observing
this disturbance, were led to think that a
planet within Mercury's orbit was the
cause. No such planet has been recog-
nized. The ring of matter, or whatever it
is, that causes the bright cone of light,
called the zodiacal light. seen after sunset
| in April, has been limited at as the cause of
the perturbations in Mercury's move
ments.
Venus lies close to the sun during the
entire month, yet crosses the meridian
! each day few minutes in advance of the
king of day.
Mars, on his way back east, will again
cross the meridian with Uranus. The near
approach of Mars to earth this year. to-
gether with his full disc, makes his rlddy
appearance unusually noticeable. On the
18th Mars will he in conjuction with the
/ Uile pldllSG DtiuS uOSiCCo
forty-seven minutes south.
Jupiter continues his motion westward,
passing from the constellation Scorpio INTO
Libra Though his declination is decreas-
ing, he will be too far south. during the
entire summer for close study. About the
2lst of May the close proximity of the
planet to bright star in Scorpio would
have been seen by even a casual observer.
Jupiter Is leaving the star to the eastward
now, but will pass it again % minutes
south on his return in September next.
This star, which is double, and Jupiter
with his train of satellites, all in one field
of view with the telescope, make a splen-
did sight.
Saturn is leaving us, not to present him
self in favorable position for study until
late next fall. At each annual return
from his hiding place in the suns
rays the face of his rings Will present
to us an increasingly smaller angle until
1891, when the edge of the ring will be
turned toward us. and only a line of light,
in place of the rings will be visible.
Uranus transits with Mars on the even
ing of the 9th 1t is little farther south
from Mars than when they crossed the
meridian together May s. 1t can be dis
tinctly seen with the naked eye if one
knows just where to look for it. 1t can
be easily found with an opera glass Few
persons now living will see this planet on
its return to the constellation Virgo, where
it is now found. 1t takes it eighty-four
years for it to make its journey through
the stars.
Neptune, if seen at the first of the month
would appear nearly in the same line with
Venus, but its distance beyond is greater
than the mind can grasp. Alone it plods
its wearisome road.
The suns path for the month is in Tau
rus and Gemini. 1t reaches its farthest
point north few minutes after 6 O'Clock,
on the evening of the Goth, and at once
takes up its march southwark. Though
more heat is poured on the north
ern hemisphere ON the Goth day
of June than on any other
day of the year, it is not the hottest, for
date more heat is added during the day
than escapes during the night. The total
amount of heat is thus increased, and con-
tinue to increase until the days and nights
are more nearly equal in length. Hence
our hottest weather is in July and August,
after the sun has gone far toward the
south
The moon will be at its nearest point TO
the earth two days before the full, and
hence will give more light and appear
larger than when farther away.