Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-12-04
THE SHINING STARS.
Something About the Course of the Plan
cts During December.

From the Providence Journal.
An interesting event in the progress Of Venus
the evening star, during December Is her ap-
proach to Mars, the distance between the two
planets constantly diminishing. Mars, like
Venus, is moving eastward. His brighter
neighbor moves the faster and gains upon him
in the race. At the beginning of the month
the planets are about Is degrees apart At the
close OF the month they are less than degree
apart. Venus is easily seen at glance in the
southwestern sky as soon as the sun has set,
and Mars, not visible until an hour later, is the
small rudy star northeast Of Venus. Venus
sets on the LIST at Oh. 35m. p. m. On the 31st
she sets at III. Am. p. m. Mars sets on the Is,
al IN. 4Sm. p. m. On the 31st he sets at III.
Som. p. m.
Saturn is morning star, according to astro-
nomical classification, and after moving east
ward or in direct motion for several months is
stationary during the greater part of December,
and then begins to retro8rade or move west
ward. He is easy to find, about degrees north
west OF Regulus, the highest star in the handle
OF the sickle. Saturn rises on the LIST at Oh.
S3m. p. m. On the 3lst he rises at III. Som. p. m.
-, Mercury is morning star till the 2Sth, and
then evening star. He is in superior conjunc-
ton with the sun on the 2Sth at Oh. pm, when
passing beyond the sun and seemingly Joined
70 hlm, he commences again one of his swift
circuits around the great central luminary,
completing his revolution and coming to the
same point in relation to the sun and the earth
In ll6 days, moving in his orbit with the in
conceivable velocity Of 80 miles in a second.
Mercury rises on the LIST at 5h. 46m. am. On
the 3lst he sets at Al. 20m. pm.
Neptune is evening star, and he is in the
constellation of Taurus. He sets on the LIST at
Oh. 5m. am. On the 31st he sets at Al. Am.
am.
Uranus is morning star, and is in the con-
stellation Of Virgo. He rises on the LIST at 2h
43m. am. On the 31st he rises at Oh. Slim. a. m.
Jupiter Is evening star until the 9Th and then
morning star. On the Sth, at PM, he is in
conjunction with the sun, passing to his west
ern side and commencing his course as morn
ing star. This planet and mercury meet and
pass each other on the celestial road ON the
18th, at III. am, Jupiter being 10 g. north.
He sets on the 1st at Al. Som. pm. On the 31st
he rises at 5h. Sim. am.
Mercury, Venus, Mars and Neptune are even
ing stars at the clote of the month. Jupiter,
Uranus and Saturn are morning stars.
THE MOON.
The December moon fulls on the 18th. at 5h.
Aim. am. The waning moon, the day before
her change, is in conjunction with Mercury on
the I'd. at 3h. 45m. am, being 80 "a north.
The new moon, when but six hours old, is in
conjunction with Jupiter on the Sd, at ill.,
3Sm. am, being % So north. She is in con-
junction with Venus ON the 9Th. at Oh. sam.
pm, being % a north. Moon and evening
star will then be fair to see. She makes q
close conjunction with Mars on the 9Th. at Oh.
22m. pm, being Is north, little less than
half the diameter of the moon. She is at her
nearest point to Neptune on the 10Th, at 1Oh.
33m. pm, being q 26' south. The moon is in
conjunction with Saturn ON the z3d, at H. an
am, being IL S2' north. She is at her nearest
point to Uranus on the 9th, at Oh 35m. q. m,
being 30 L north. Our satellite completes her
monthly work in relation to the planets by a
second conjunction with Jupiter on the S1st, at
Sh. 5m. am, being % IL north.
The December full moon will be one of the
attractions of the month. for she will run
higher in the heavens than any full moon of
the year. She fulls ON the 18th, when the sun
is within 2 Of his lowest southern declination.
The sun rises on the LIST at 6h sam. I'm. and
sets at All. lem. pm, making the length of the
day Oh. 22m. The sun rises on the 31st at III.
lam. m. and sets at Al. Pam. pm, making the
length of the day Oh. ION. A great epoch
occurs between the LIST and the 3lst. The sun
reaches the winter solstice on the 2lst, at Al.
am, and the astronomical winter commences.
On THE STH PAGE of tomorrow morning 8
Post Saks and Co. will have something that will
To- Z.