Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-07
THE HEAVENLY BODIES.
The Suns Eciipse-Decembcr Changes
in the Planets.
From the New York Times.

From the New York Times.
The sun has been gradually slackening in
speed as he approaches the winter solstice, the
extreme southern limit of his journey, which
he will reach on the 21st, and enters the sign of
Capricornus. in which his northern journey
begins. Winter then is fairly begun and will
continue as the sun passes through the other
two winter signs-Aquarius and Pisces-on his
way to the line" The days are hours and
30 minutes long at the beginning of the month
and hours and "a minutes long at its close.
The most important event of the month is a
total eclipse of the sun on the 2lst-22d, not
visible In our latitude. This is the second total
eclipse OF the year, very rare occurrence, for,
although they occur occasionally within twelve
months OF each other, it is very seldom that two
total eclipses happen In the same calendar year,
anu II VIII not again occur until the year 2051.
Ihe total eclipse is important because il affords
chance to study the solar corona, and as the
last eclipse considerably modified the views of
scientists IN relation to the constitution of the
envelopes encircling the sun it is especially
important TO test these new hypothesis by still
more exact observations, and as there is no
other total eclipse of the sun for a period of
Tour years it is all the more important to make
the most OF this one. Cayenne, the most favor
able point of land for observation on this side
OF the Atlantic, has duration of totality of one
minute and forty-seven seconds at about sunrise.
AT 81. Paul de Loando, Africa, where the PEN
sacola Is taking Prof. Todd and his party. the
totalty Will last three minutes and quarter
and IT is at this station that the principal part
OF the work will be done
The moon is full ON the It'll, last quarter on
the ioth, new moon on the 22d and first quarter
on the 2Sth. The moon will be nine DAYS old
according 20 the above date, on the first of the
year, which establishes as the epact for 1890.
quantity always of more or less importance in
calculating the dates on which some of the
PrihciPai events IN the church calendar are to
be celebrated. There will be conjunction be-
tween the moon and Neptune on the 9Th On
the 18TH there will be conjunction with Saturn:
ON the l7tn with both Mars and Uranus. The
moon next approaches Venus on the Dist meets
ouPlter on tie 23d, the last con- junction be-
tween moon and planet for this year.
Venus will still be an object of interest to
carry risers, although by no means so long in
the Held of view as she has been during the
autumn months
Saturn, also morning star, is rapidly COM
ing to favorable position for observation and
can easily be found i'll the northeastern section
OF the heavens, not far from the bright star
Regulus.
Mars. another morning star, will be found in
tue sign OF the Virgin. and not far, at the
months close, from the bright star Spica, chief
of the group.
Uranus, the most distant of the morning
stars, is also In the Virgin group, which this
month as well as last contains more than its
lar share of the brilliants of the heavens
Uranus can be found more by his surroundings
than by individual prominence and the bright
star opica again serves to mark with sufficient
cIactEeSs the place of this PARKWAY planet
lie Is IN conjunction with the moon on the 9Th
Mercury deserts the group of morning stars
on the hh and for the remainder of the year
VIII serve under Jupitcrs guidance as one OF
the trio of evening planets
Jupiter Is well kown in the southwest when
ne becomes visible after the sun sets. and is by
no means SO favorably situated for observation
as he was earlier in the season The distance be-
tween the planet and the sun is constantly lessen
ing, ana early IN January the sun will sweep by
Ihe siower-moVing body and the giant planet will
De iost 10 the view of star gaZers i'll the evening
10 appear just before sunrise some weeks later
III the easterly side of the armament Although
TINS glorious planet is near the sun and is at a
great distance from the earth he still shines
with brilliant luster that will make him
CONSPICUOUS object almost DIS long as he remains
above the horizon.
Neptune having been in opposition with the
sun on the Goth of last month, has since that
uatc peen an evening star and is to be found in
the group of Taurus, reaching our meridian n
niue AFTER III O'Clock in the evening on the first
OF the month. and some two hours earlier at its
close. Ills position is fairly well marked by
the bright star Aldobaran
Inc northern star groups for December re-
main practically unchanged from those of No.
,eihper. H!gh up IN the southern skies is the
mead OF the Ram, which was originally the first
OF the zodiacal consultations but the same
change which has shifted the Polar Star from
the Dragon to the Little Bear has moved the
Ram from his former position. Below the Ram
| 3 the Whale, which was intended in all prob
| ablllty to represent some imaginary sea mon
ster, as the group suggests rather an animal
| like the sea serpent, rearing its head above the
water, than the great, numbering mass of the
whale. In the eastern section of the heavens
we have the Lesser Dog, the Twins and the
Chariotter. Orion has passed over to the east
| southeast. and above his head lie the PRINCIPAL
stars of the Bull. An unusual galaxy of most
brilliant starry gems adorns this portion of the
sky, among the number being Sirius, Procyon
| Rigel, Aldebaran, Capella. Castor and Pollux.
| The western part of the skies is not honored by
very many of the important consultations. the
| Winged Horse, the Chained Lady and the stars
of Aquarius and Cygnus forming the most i'm
| portant groups.