Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-15
Stars and Planets In November.


Novembe-
Orion, tbs eader, can be seen during
the latter half of the month at Q. NJ, q
little to the south of west, near the no
rizon. This constellation is readily dis
tinguished from the others by its promi-
nent features of three bright stars known
as Orion belt. These three bright stars
form a straight line, and, when rising,
are perpendicular TO the horizon. Close
to the southeast of these are three stars
of q somewhat less magnitude, Gale d
Or1on's Sword, also forming a straight
line. These point north and south. but
it must be remembered that this would
make them present an angle of AZ de-
grees with the horizon. The northern
most star of the sword appears, even TO
the uaked eye, to be somewhat hazy,
while in tbs telescope it gives view
rarely equaled by sidereal astronomy.
A two'or three inch telescope shows a
trapt ziun of four small stars, which are
described by Smyth as being pale white,
lively. These stars are surrounded by
What seems to be brilliant cloud. This
nebuIa was for long time supposed to
consist of great number of small stars,
whose enormous distance gave them the
appearance of our Milky Way. Although
the Earl of Rossi's great six foot re-
Hector was directed to this nebula no
satisfactory evidence could be obtained
that it was a star cluster. Hugging, how
ever, proved, by means of spectrum
analysis, that the nebula consists of in
oandescent vapor. The dimensions of
this neoula must be enormous, since,
Notwithstanding it's immense distance, to
pass over which light takes thousands of
years, it occupies such large space in
our heavens.
Aldebarin, which means in Arabic "the
hindmost," with its attend ant Hyades, is
little to the west OF Orion, but can be
readily seen on account of its wonderful
redness.
Cappeta, a star of the first magnitude.
is a little way above the horizon in the
northeast. 1t is az unusually bright star
aud scintillates in a marvellous manner.
But when it approaches nearer the zenith
it leaves this frisky movements and rivals
the planets in It's steady, white light.
Ptolemy, Who lived about $50 A. D. peaks
of this star as red; in 1850 Hum boldt
considered it yellow; in 1868 Kearney
thought it was pale blue. Since many
other stars have also been thought to
have undergone changes in color. Many
have attributed it to the varsous periods
in a stars age. Owing to this stars dis
lance, it could become extinct seventy
two years before we should know IL. This
huge globe, which is able to send to US
such a large quantity of light from so re-
mote g place, travels through space at
the rate of thirty miles per second.
Saturn is midway between morning
star and evening star, since it rises on
Nov. L at midnight and on the Both at
about 10 p. m. It is about eight degrees
west-northwest of the bright star ReguIus
Mercury is morning star. 1t is al
greatest olongatiou on the 18th at 1 a. N.
1t must be looked for as near this time as
possible, Just bsfore sunrise close to
the horizon.
Jupiter and Mars are rapidly getting
too near the sun to be much longer visible
Jupiter may be much longer visable
Jupiter may be seen during the first half
of the month at about $50 in the after
noon near the western horizon. Mars,
however, will be visible until p. m.
throughout the month, but will be too
much obscured by the rays of the setting
sun to show its crimson colors to good
effect.
Venus is the most beautiful planet of
the month. It sets about two hours after
sunset. It's marvellous brilliancy easily
distinguishes it from the other bright
stars in the neighborbood, such as Vega
toward the north and also Mars and
] jupiter. The resemblance of this planet
to the earth is very remarkable. Venus
diameter is 1900 miles, while that of the
earth is 1900 miles. Its density is 0.9
that of ours, and body there would fall
fourteen feet in the first second, while
here it would fall but two feet more. In
ength of day Venus also resembles the
earth, for it's day is only thirty five
minutes shorter than ours. Tie distance |
from the sun to Venus is always about the |
same, SO. 100000 miles. Consequently it |
would have very nearly equal seasons, if |
he inclination of its axis was small. !
But this is far from being the case, for
he equator is inclined to the plane on
7enus' orbit by an angle about double
hat of our inclination. Therefore, the
egions near the poles undergo for one
lalf the year the severe cold of our own
,olar countries, while during the remain
ng half they are visited by the intense
eat of the tropics. Venus probably has
very dense atmosphere, for it was e1-
remedy dificult to distinguish any marks
pon its surface. Furthermore it reflects
bout as much light as new fallen snow,