Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-07-29
AUGUST PLANETS.
Jupiter the Evening starrMsrs and g.
turn-rhs Moon-Eclipss Of
the Sun.
Providence JournalI

the attention Of the lover OF the stars. HI
IL In quaarsfure with the sun, or 900 east e
him, on the Goth at 3h. A. NJ. II on the meri
dian at that time about sunset. and Is beauti-
ful 10 behold. as with stately step he ira
verses his western path until he sinks below
| the horizon. He il not seen under bis
best conditions on account of his great
southern declinauon aud hi, increasing
| distance from the earth. IFS meridian
altitude IL low, and the arc be describes
In the heavens less In extent than II Is when
he reaches mis- greatest northern aeclination
and describes bis most extended uc ia the
sky. As il takes the planet year TO pass
through one constellation OF the zodiac and
twelve years 10 complete revolution round
the sun. several years are still required to
bring him 10 position when bis stay above
the horizon Is the longest. aud bis size snd
brilliancy are the greatest to the northern OBJ
servers. II, az that time, he chances to be
near opposition and pcrihelisn, the
prince OF planets Is visible under the
most favorable circumstances that can exist
for terrestrial observers. Such was the
csse at the periheion OF the planet oil
1880, and his majestic aspect at thst time
will ever be remembered by those who wit
messed il. Meantime the Jupiter OF the
present month Is charming object as he
moves on his unerrng course Ia the sereae
farlit evenings. enthreucd amsnc the stars
OF the beautiful constellation Scorplo, draw
ing near to Beta scorpii and perceptibly les
| sening the distance that interyeues between
| him and the red star Antares. He is conve-
nientsy situated also, for the observers need
only TO command q view Of the southwestern
sky TO follow his course from sunset until
he disappears. He sets 90 the LIST about
four hours and hail after the sun, and on
the 3lst about three hours after the sun.
The right ascension Of Jupiter on the 1st
Is 15h. 3sm., his declInation is 1so AZ south,
bis diameter IL 57".S, and he Is in the con-
stell2tisn Libra.
Jupiter sets on the lat nj 1fh. 29m. p. NJ.
On the 3lst be sets AZ Oh. 81 L. ".
MARS is evening star. He shares with Ju-
piter the honor of being visible in the west
ern sky in the early evening. though in n
subordinate degree. for he is lever down in
the west and his brightness and rudy glow
sre fast diminishing. The approach OF
Jupiter and Mars Is the most attractive
planetary Incident OF the mentb. Both
planets arc travelling eastward, bat as Mars
moves faster he will gain upon his csmreti-
tor In the race. as any one who notes the
position OF the stars may easily see. Mars
sets on the 1st about an hour before Jupiter !;
On the 3lst the planets are 80 near each other
that the former sets about half.hour
earlier than his planetary companiou. The
conjunction OF Mars and Spica was pleasing
feature Of the evening sky In July. the rudy
hue OF the planet being finely coutrasted with
the silyery white light Of the star. The ap.
proach Of Mars to Jupiter during the present
month will be moro interesting, for planet
draws near to planet Planets are our fellow
travellers, linked in ineXtricable chains
to the same central orb, aud bound together
in the same destiny. stars are suns so FAR
away that even the light they give has grown
old in the long distance that interyenes be-
fore it reaches the round world on which we
live.
The right ascension Of Mars on the 1st is
14h. linn: his declInation Is 40 2S' south;
his diameter is SIS, and he is In the constel-
lation Virgo.
Mars sets on the 1st at lob. ION z. NJ; on
the 31st he sets at Oh ION. p. NJ.
SATURN u evening star for few hours on
the lat, and after that time morning star.
| He Is in conjunction with the sun on the list
at 50. Z. NJ; when passing beyond the sun
he reappears on the suns western side. He
will remain invisible fer part Of the month,
but riay be easily found, with the help OF an
opera-glass, at its close, when he rises two
hours before the sun. Saturn Is in cOniunc-
ton with Mercury on the 18th, being 80
south. Both planet, may be found in the
same field en- the morning OF the 14th, with
the assistance Of field-glass.
The right ascension OF Saturn on the LIST
Ia Sh. 5lm. bis 6echnation IL 19e 90 north /;
his diameter is 1915, and he is In the con-
stellation Cancer.
Saturn sets on the lst at III. Am. p. NJ. /;
on the S1st he rises at Oh. 2rn. A. VI.
MsECURY is morning star until the 23d,
and then evening star. He il In superior
conjunction with the sun on the sd at Sh.
+. NJ, when he commences his course as
evening star.
The right ascension OF Mercury on the lst
Is n. 3lm.; his declination Is 200 49, north
his diamter Is 6>.S, and he is In the cOnstel-
latjOn Gemini.
Mercury rises on the 1st at 3h. 13m. A. NJ;
on the 31st he sets at CD. 39m. p. M
URANUS is evening star. Observers using
an opera glass may ind him west OF Spica,
and not far from Theta Visginis.
The right ascension OF Uranus on the lst
is lob. SEM; his declinstion Il 10 53/ south ;
his diameter s3".G, and he Is In the constel-
latiOn Virgo.
Uranus sets on the 1st at Oh. Sem. z. NJ. /;
ON the 3lst he sets at IN. Aim. p. NJ.
NEPTUNE Is morning star. He is In quad
nature with the sun on the 10th at 3h. A. NJ,
bejn. then 300 west OF the great luminary.
The right ascension OF Neptune on the LIST
Is An. In; his dcclination Is 1So So north /;
bis diameter IL 2H.6, and he Is In the conste-
latlsn Taurus.
Neptune rises on the 1st at lib. 49m. p.
NJ; on the Dist he rises at Oh. 52m. Z. II.
VENUs is evening star. She is slowly
emerging from her concealment Ia the sun
beams, setting on the last day OF the month
about q half hour after the sun. Sharp
sighted observers may pick her up Just after
sunset about 40 south OF the point where the
sun went dswn.
The right ascension OF Venus ON the lat Is
Oh. 13n., her declination is 17e 30/ north,
her diameter Is 10//, and she Is In the con-
steIlation Of Cancer.
Venu sets on the 1st at 7h. 22m. F. NJ.
On tae 3lst she sets at Oh. Som. P. ii.
Mercury, Venus, Uranus. Mars, and JupI-
ter are evening stars at the close OF the
month. Saturn and Neptune are morning
stars.
THE NOON.
The August moon fulls on the 2lst at 11h.
20m. A. II. She is In conjunction, with
Neptune on the LIST at %. Ain. p. NJ, being
% So south. She Is in close conjunction
with Mercury on the 9th at 81. sim. A. NJ,
being 1S south. She Is Ia conjunction with
saturn ON the 7th at Al. 29n. A. NJ, being
le/ north. She Is near Venus on the sth at
3h. 40m. A. NJ, being AZ north. Uranus
lies next in her path, and the conjunction
takes place on the 11th at Al. 30m. Z. NJ,
the moon being IL A. north. Mars IS next
reached in her course, the conjunction oc-
curing at 3h. 40m. Z. NJ, the moon being 60
so north. Our satalIite is at her nearest ap-
proach to Jupiter on the l4th at Oh. 35m. p.
NJ, being 40 81 north. On the 18th, at llh.
Slim. p. NJ, she Is in conjunction with Nep-
tune for the second time during the month,
beng 20 AZ south.
THE sun.
The decrease ia the length OF the day
during The month Is In. and l3m. The de-
crease in the morning Is 31m. and In the eve
uing II Is Ann. Observers will observe that
tae days decrease more rapidly as tue sun
approaches the autumnal equinox. The de-
cre1se in July Is AIM, while in August 1t Is
lib. 13m.
The suns decllnstIon on the 1st is ,7s 49,
north. On the 31st Il is 50 2e/ north. The