Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-01-03

In 1871, when a large number OF astronomers
from this country Went to Europe 10 make OBJ
Aeryations II will begin about o'clock, Cali
fornia time, and totality will last two minutes
ana Two seconds. IL Is an important eclipse
and may result In the discovery OF very inter-
estlng facts. The longest pesiod a total eclipse
of the sun can continue 10 the inhabitants Of
the Earth is seven minutes and 81 seconds. The
conditions under which such an eclipse would
take place are 80 rare that IL might not occur
once In ten thousand years II could only takc
place at the equator when the Earth was at a
cer1an point On its orbit with the sun and
Moon in relative positions which they very sell
dom occupy The surface of the Earth IL is
miles nearer 10 the Sun at the equator than IL
is here. and that would locate the observer so
much higher In the cone-shaped shadow of tho
eclipse. Another fact that would prolong suth
an eclipse % the equator - the more rapid
motion OF the Earth toward the east, which
would keep one In the shadow longer.
On the night OF January 1871 there will
be partial eclipse Of the Moon, beginning
10 Wilmington Il 1886 y. N, and reachlng
It's hight at ~ minutes past midnight, at
which time the observation will extend to
seven-tenths of the Moons diameter.
Another popularity OF the incoming year
will be two new Moons in January, two in
March, and none In February. AS the
Moon reyolves around the Earth In 20 days,
II hours and A minutes, 1t is obvious that
no other month than February can be with
out new Moon, aud only February by
close shave, The phases OF the Moon for
January are: New Moon, is:, 40S p. M;
first quarter, Ssh, 7 40 p, M. full Moon,
18th, 0.36 a. M; last quarter, Oath, 1887
a. m. new Moon, 3ls,, 400 a IN.
Mercury is evening planet through Jan.
nary, reaching his greatest eastern elon "a.
ton, 1872, 2am., on tha morning OF the 9Oth
and his ereltest brillianeY on the evening
OF the Glst. He should be looked for,
towards the clcss of the month, go north
OF the Sua's TRACK aud about three. quarters
OF an hour after the SUI has set.
: Venus, the brightest planet OF the evening
sky, can certainly not now escape the most
careless ssy-gGzer's attention, though there
is no probability of any one mistaklng her
at this time. as come credulous persons
were fatn TO do 10 the fall OF 1887, for the
mythical "Star OF Bethlehem" Venus and
Mars have been fast nearing each ether
lately, and will pass on the morning OF
january I'd ut only 40 minutes distance.
The best time to look at these plansts will
be on the evenings of the lst and ID. On
tho evening OF the 4ih V nus will be near
the crescent of the young moon, though
about six times IS far away from the luna
orb as YVES Mars on the night of DecsmbeI
9th.
Jupiter Is morning planet, risins on the
LIST about 615a. m. He will be ia eopjuuc-
ton with the waning Moon, at ls2 south Of /
the same, on the morning Of the 18th.
Saturn is excellently placed for obserya.
tion, rising about $40 p, N. on the lat and
some two hours earlier by the close Of Jan
uary, he reaches opposition on February
18th. o. the 18th, AT p. M, hs will be In
conjunction with the Moon. at i.o south.
Uranus and N7ptune promise nothing Of
special interest during january,