Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-10
PLANETS IN JUNE.
ApEEp AT THE HEAVENS THROUGH THE
BIO TELESCOPE.
Tho Movements Of the Principal Celestial
Bodies--hereury, Mars. Venus,
Saturn.
Providence JOurnaLl

ton for observation with the naked eye that
will occur during the year. He reaches bis
greatest eloneation on the 18th at 3b. y. NJ,
and Is then "a ~ east OF the sun-nesrly
his maximum distance--snd Ia also in high
norihern dcclination. These two conditions
bring him out 10 the best advantage for
Northern observers, and he may easily be
found by any one who knows his posi-.
lion In the sky. lle( sets nearly two
hours after the sun on the 10Th, when he
arrives at his most distant point cast
from the sun, and must then be looked
for in the northwest, forming triangle
with Poux and PrOcyOn, the planet being
west of the stars. Mercury will be visible
for week before and after his greatest
Cl0ngatiOn. An opeIa-glass Will aid the
search, and when once found In this way the
Nnaided eye will easily follow the planets
course aud recognize his wonderful bril-.
llncy, unlike any other star In the heavens.
Ills movement among the stars before elonga-
ton will be eastward; after eloDgation 1t
will be westward.
The rpbt ascension OF Mercury on the lst
is 90. IAN, bis decination Is 25o 49, north.
his diameter IS G./>G, aud he Is IN the constel-
lalion Geminl.
Mercury sets on the 1st at sh. 57m. 2. NJ.
ON the 3Dth be sefs at III. J0m. II. Nj.
JrrTFRis evening star. lie reigns through
the month Of June without a rival and II
one Of the chief attractions OF the slarlit sky
during this beautiful summer month when
the pure atmosphere and the mild tempera-
ture invite observers 10 raise their eyes as
well ~ tlnir thoughts to the star-spangled
ornament The royal planet r. still retro
Grading or moving westward, SIS Is plainly
perccDiibc in his increasing distance from
Beta ~c0rpli, the star he almost touched on
May ooh. The nightly sky would he mo-
noionous n there were nothing but the So
called fixed stars 10 tread over its vast con-
cave. Tue planets, with their cOmings aud
coines, their meetings and partings, their
changing size and brlliaucy, lend an en-
chanting variety 10 the scenic effect that is
more hl2hly enjoyed aud appreciated the
more closely their wanderngs are followed.
The ught ascension Of Jupiter on the 1st
g. 15h. 53m.. his dccination is 1872 IA south,
DIFF, diameter IL 43.//2. and he is the constela-
ton OF >cOrpiO.
Jupitrr sets on the 1T at 81. 40m. A. NJ.
ON tic 30th be SETS at H. sem. 4. NJ.
Mars Is evening star. He ~ losing his
ruday hue and decreasing IN size az he re-
cedes from the earth. and will soon become
% comparatively insignificant star. His
diameter when nearest 10 Us at opposition,
on Apri llth, was lG.N'G. He has changed
nis COURSE, is now moving eastward, and will
continue 10 travel in a direct course until
the cud Of the year. Uranus Is retrogradiDg,
or moving westward, and the planets pass
clci other for the third time during the year.
m" first conjunction WAS on January 9tb,
the second on May 9th, and the third takes
llcc ON the G b. at midnight, when Mars Is
A. south u Uranus. After the last en-
counter the planets will separate, and will
rot meet agan until Mars has made a COM
l.l,.r revolution and Ovcrtakcn his slow
moving brOfhcr.panet Mars Is in some re-
srrcis AN unsatisfactory celestial neighbOr.
IN rkcs him $50 days 10 move from one OPP
position 10 The succeeding one, and favorable
conditions for observation continue about q
month before and after opposition. The OPP
positions when Mars and the earth are a. the
nearest point 10 each other are separated by
the long interval OF fifteen years. The COM
pl,iion ~ this cycle will take place In 1892.
Aiar, will then be four times as bright rs he
is in oppositions when the two planets are
flrthc~' apart.
Tine right ascension Of Mars on the lst Is
12h. I'm. his decliuatlon is 40 ~ south, bus
diameter is 13.|/2, and be is in the conslella-
tou virgo.
Mrs sis on the 1st at IN. som. A. NJ. On
The o1th hc sets al I III. 5im. j. NJ.
TnANr- is evening star. He Is stationary
on the 10th, and after that time changes his
course, moving eastward for The rest OF the
veal. HIS third conf junction with Mars has
been referred TO.
The right ascension Of Uranus on the LIST Ia
12h. Bonn, bis dcclinstou is A. 81 south, his
diameter is 3./(S. and be is in the cOnstella-
Sion Virgo.
Uranus sets on the 1st at IN. 3Jm. A. NJ.
On lhe 30th he sets at llh. aim. =. NJ.
SATURN l. evening star. He is moving
eastward. and passes the cluster Pl@sepe
during the month. lie may he found al the
close Of the month near Gamma and Delta
Caueri, two stars OF the fourth magnitude.
The right ascension Of saturn on the LIST
j. sh. 2lm. his declnauon Is 200 s. north,
III diameter Is 1G|, and ne is in the constel-
laiiUn Cancer.
saturn sells on the lst al 1Oh. 4Om. L. nj.
On the 30th he sets at Sh. 5Im. +. NJ.
NtNts is morning star and entirely hidden
i'm the suns RAYS, rising about ten minutes
bl'lre him AZ the close OF the month.
The right ascension Of Venus on the 1st is
a. 5am., her decliuaton is l9o 81 north, her
diameter il l0// and she Is In the eOnslelA-
ton Taurus.
Venus rises on the Isl at Sh. 42m. A. NJ.
ON the 30ih she rises At 4h. Am. 4. NJ.
NErTrNE Is morning star. He also is very
CLOSE to the sun. aud IN his progress west
ward meets Venus moving eastward. The
CONJUNCTION takes place on the lstat SO'clOcS
IN the morning, Neptune being 81 south.
The event will be invisible to human eyes,
but will o. surely take place Us the sun Will
Use in the heavens on the morning OF the
conjunction.
The right ascension Of Neptune on the lSt
Is 81, 53m., and his declination Il $50 81,
ms diameter is 2"5, and he Is in the cOnste-
laton Taurus.
Neptune rises on the 1st at 3h. 53m. A. NJ.
on the Both he rises al III. 52m. A. NJ.
Mercury, saturn, Mars, Uranus, and Ju-
Wter are evening stars al the close OF the
month. Venus aud Neptune are morning
stars.
TIE NOON.
The June moon fulls on the 23d at Al. I'm.
pm. She Is IN conjunction With Neptune
on the 7th al Sh. 5im. L. NJ, being p 81
south. She Il IN conjunction with Venus on
the Sth, the day before the new moon, at
9h. j2m. Z. NJ, beng 80 3V south. She Is
at her nearest point to Mercury on the llth
at4d. Gun. =. NJ, being % 29' south. As
Mercury rs then visible 10 the naked eye.
the slender crescent Will be guide TO his
position. The moon is In conjunction
with saturn on the 18th at 2b. 4Sm. A. NJ,
being only 20 south. The conjunction,
though a close one, viii not be visible, rs
II occurs when saturn IS below the horizon.
Observers. however, between The limiting
parallels OF 15o north and 100 south, II they
are on the right side Of the earth and In the
right position, will behold The rare phe-
nomtnOn Of The occultal0n OF Saturn by the
moon Our satellite draws near to Uranus
on the 18Th At 81. l9m. 4. NJ, being ~ 36'
north. She is at her nearest point OF APP
rroach 20 Mars also on the 18th al IN. 5lm.
A. NJ, beng - A. north. She ia in con-
junction with Jupiter on the 2lst at Oh. 35m.
4. NJ, beiBg 81 81 north.
The suns deciinatiOn on the lst Is 22' IL
north. On the Both IL is 2So s. north. The
highest northern dechnaiIon-239 21<-is
reached on tue 2Dth, when the summer sol
stice oct uIs. The sun seems 70 move so
very SLOW AZ this season that the increase
IN declnation from the lst 10 the 10th is only
j. lG<, and the decrease from the 20ta to the
end Of Tie month is only lV.
TIE SUMNER sOLsTICR.
On the 20ln, al Z. NJ, the summer sol
siice occurs, when the sun reaches his 'ex-
IRENE point Of Boribern defamation and sum-
mer reieDs supreme in the north temperate
zone. Wen may the sun stand still in bis
course and behold the fruition OF vegetable
life evoked by bis mighty power. The bulls
and valleys are clad with yerdure, the trees
rgfaice "a fbf. farfaofiau Of f0iiQVa flowers