Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-02

THE MovEnESrs or THE pRtscrpAL
PLANETS IN yAyuAaY.
vsaus, Mars, Saturn, Msfcnry-Ths Noon
Partial Eclipse Of the sooa This
knrth.
providence Journal

The place OF honor ON the planetary
record inust bo awarded TO her. for she
outshincs every mysterious twinkier IN
the star-spangied armament, and IN GER
tain portions Of her course dares to APP
pear at MONDAY in the presence OF the
crcat sun himself. She is now Fastening
towards that point in her career. grow
ing more beautiful in her progress TO the
goal. Venus is still moving eastward,
but will soon reach the limit Of her great
est distance from the sun. Meantime
she is the "starihat all are praising as
every evening when the sky is clear she
reisns in starry splendor IN the south
west. hardly waiting for the sun TO set
before her presence is. discerned. She
is not only rnpidly approaching the
earth and increasing 10 size and bril-
liancy, but is moving north, and thus
coming INTO moro favorable conditions
for observation. This charming planet
will be the radiant queen Of the stars
until nearly the last OF April. Observers
who watch the movements OF Venus and
Mars during January will notice that the
fairest OF the stars overtskes her ruddy
rival on the I'd at III. Aim. A. NJ, beng
at the time 40 south.
As the conjunction takes place IN day
light, it is not visible. but, on the eve
ming OF the I'd, Venus will be west OF
Mars. instead OF east, thus proving that
il has taken place. The diameter OF
Venus is gradually increasing. 1t was
10" in July, when she was III superior
conjunction. II will be 20".5, on the
3lst, showing that she is approaching
the earth. AS the planet comes towards
us the illuminated portion OF her disc
lessons. but her increased size more than
compensates for the loss, and her bril-
liancy increases.
The right ascension of Venus on the
LIST is 9th. 45m., her defamation is To- u
south, her diameter is 1914, and she IS
in the constellation Capricornus.
Venus sets on the lst at IN 45m. p. NJ.
On the 3lst she sets at Sh. 49m. 7. M.
MARS is evening star. His conjunction
with Venus on the I'd has been described.
As Mars moves northward and eastward
during the month, with little change in
the time OF setting, it would be easy TO
follow his course if it were not for his
increasing distance. Observers who wish
10 find him must look among the small
stars of Capricornus, and may readily
distinguish him from his rudy hue.
The right ascension Of Mars on the
LIST is 9Th. 46m., his declinahon is llo
Az south, his diameter is SO, and he is
in the constellation Capricornus.
Mars sets on the let at IN. 5Om. p.
M. On the 31st he sets at 7h. 54m. p.
NJ.
SATURN is morning star according to
Astronomical classification. for he Is
still on the western side Of the sun. he
is, however. an interesting object, rising
in the early evening and continuing
visible till the rising sun puts out his
feeblet light. He may be found in the
northeastern sky. rising before o'clock
on the LIST of the month, and before g
O'Clock at its close. he shines with
steady. serene light, and soft tint Of
pale yellow that distinguish him from
the small twinkling stars in his vicinity,
and the bright star Regulus IN the han
die of the Sickle, q few degrees southeast
of MIN, will be a sure guide to his posi-
ton. Saturn is retrogradinR or moving
westward, as may be seen by the lncreas-
ing distance between the planet and
Regulus.
he right ascension Of Saturn on tho
1st is Oh. 29m., his declination is l6' j
north, his diameter is 49,. S, and he is in
the constellation Leo.
Saturn rises on the LIST at III. 26m. L.
n. On the Dist he rises at 4h. I'm. p.
NJ.
MERCURY ia evening star. He reaches
his greatest eastern elonQntion on the
3Oth at Ia. A. NJ, being lSo 20 east OF
the sun. He is then at his period of
greatest brilliancy, is farther north than
the sun, and is approaching the earth.
These conditions are all favorable for
observation, and be will be visible to the
naked eye on the Both, and for week
before aud after. He sets on the Both an
hour and half after the sun. The careful
observer, If the evening be exceptionally
clear, must note the sunset point, and
three quarters OF an hour after sunset
will find Mercury about 70 north of the
point where the sun went down. The
planet is beautiful enough TO repay the
trouble required to obtain glimpse OF
him. Sometimes he displays rosy or
golden tint, aud sometimes he twlnkles.
lie has, however, usually q brilliant
white light resembling that of Sirius ii
ne we're as near the sun. 1t is well to
find his position with the aid OF an
opera- glass, and when thus found the
unaided eve can easily follow his course.
The right ascension of Mercury on
the 1st is l9h. lm., his defamation is
24o 80 south, his diameter is GO, and
he is in the constellation Sagttarius.
Mercury sets on the LIST at 4h. 24m.
p. On the 3lst he sets at 6h. Som.
Z. VI.
JUPITER is morning star. Observers
who anticipate the dawn will find the
bright planet, whose beaming light
seems but slightly dimmed by distance,
in the southeast, rising an hour and a
Quarter before the sun ON the LIST and
two hours and half before the sun on
the 9lst. He enjoys the distinction OF
being the sole planet visible in the morn
ing sky.
The right ascension Of Jupiter on the
LIST is l7h. 2Sm., his defamation IS 22o
81 south, bis diameter is 1914, and he
is in the constellation Scorpio.
Jupiter rises on the LIST Mt Oh. 57m.
A. NJ. On the 3lst he rises at III. 23m.
A. NJ.
URANUS is morning star. He is In
quadrature with the sun on the llth at
Ala. L. Nj. The telescope will bring him
into view about 3 north of Spica.
The right ascension of Uranus on the
1st is 18Th. 2im., his declination is 4 o.
south, his diameter is 3" 6, and no is in
the constellation Virgo.
Uranus rises on the LIST at Oh. AIM. A.
NJ On the 3lst he rises at l0h. Som. 7.
NJ.
NEPTUNE is evening star. His right
ascension on the LIST is 3h. 52m., his de-
clination is lSo % north, his diameter is
21.6, and he is in the constellation of
Taurus
Neptune sets ON the LIST Mt 4h. A. NJ.
On the 3lst be sets at Oh. A. NJ.
Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Neptune
are evening stars at the close OF the
month. Saturn, Uranus, and Jupiter
ara fnorntno stars