The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1889-11-14
ABOUT THE PLANETS.
Some Interesting Events During the
Present Month.

!
The sun for November continues hi!
Southwark course, although moi with the
same rapidity that he travelled in DC
tobcr, the change of dcclination for tho
month being only seven degrees, anc
the speed slackening perceptibly toward
the months close. If the sun had never
been examined with any other instru
ment than the telescope, or totally
eclipsed by the intervention of the moon
we Should not have formed any idea oi
the nature of the operations going on al
his surface. 1t is remarkable that
modern science has shown us more myS
terics in the sun than it has explained,
as, Notwithstanding the researches ot
scientists, it must be said that the rea
case of the solar system still defies
analysis. and that the mechanics OF the
segregation of a planet from the sun, or
of satellite from planet, if, indeed,
such an event ever happened, or of the
mechanics of an evolution of a solar
system from countless mcteoriteS, are
still far from being clearly made out.
The mathematical theories of the earth
already advanced and elaborated are by
no means complete, and no mathematl'
cal Alexander need yet pine for other
! worlds to conquer. The convcrglng
lights of many lines Of investigation are
now brought to bear on the problem
presented bv our planet, and much may
be expected from the new astronomy,
which looks for the secrets of the earth'S
origin and history in nebulous masses OF
in swarms of meteorlteS.
The moon presents four phases during
the month, being full on the 7th, last
quarter on the 18th, new moon on the
22d. aud first quarter on the 29th. On
the 1st the moon Was in the conStclla
ton of Capricornus and on the 30th II
will be in Pisces. On the 9Th there is q
conjunction with Neptune, on the 18th
with Saturn, on the 18th with Mars, on
the Goth with Uranus, on the 2lst with
Venus, on the 22d with Mercury, and on
the 25th with Jupiter.
Jupiter will continue alone in hlS
glory as evening star until toward the
close of the month, when he will be
Joined by Neptune. He begins the month
in the constellation of the Archer. On
the 25th, three days after the new moon,
the planet and the moon will be in con
junction, and, although not as close as
last month, the crescent and the stal
will in the cool, clear atmosphere oi
this season sf the year present a ceies'
tial picture well worth seeing. During
the month Jupiter grows smaller, as
his distance from the earth Is still In
creasing.
Venus, the queen of the morning
stars, ranges under her banners all the
other planets with the exception of Ju:
piter. One by one they have succumbed
to her superior attractions until bel
rival is left to shine alone in his glory.
Venus is in conjunction with Uranus on
the 9th and with the moon on the 21st,
neither of which events will be visible tc
the naked eve. She rises about two
hours before the sun.
Saturn attracts more than ordinary
attention this month from the profes
sional star gazers, as on the 1st, at
O'Clock Greenwich time, there occurred {
remarkable conjunction, that of lapetus
its outermost satellite, with another
satellite called Titan. These two, NOV
ing in different directions, passed within
two seconds of each other. Shortly after
this close approach Iapetus entered tht
shadow of the ring system, and, as Sa
turn was then near quadrature, the en-
tire passage of the satellite through the
shadow was clear Of the planet as seer
from the earth. The satellites patti
traversed the shadow of the rings Oh
both sides of the planet and the clea1
space between the planet and ring or
one side. T. was matter of great III
terest and Importance to note If tht
satellite shone out when crossing tht
projection of the Cassinian division, anC
| if it was at all visible when in the shadow
of the dusky ring or Grape veil. Thi:
rare and interesting occurrence wa:
much better observed in extreme South
ern latitudes about Australia. Saturr
itself is in conjunction with the moot
on the 18th and in quadrature with the
sun on the 25th. 1t is the second in
Importance of the morning stars, anc
its size is gradually increasing as it get:
nearer to US and approaches a con
vcnieat position for observation.
Mercury, another of the morning
stars, rose about 5 o'clock on the 1st
and gets lazier as the cold weather in.
creases, not appearing on the horizon on
the Both until about ten minutes before
sunrise. To-day he is in conjunction with
Uranus, as the latter is moving Westward
from the sun. Mercury, Mars, Uranus
and Venus are to be found in the con
stellatiOn of the Virgin.