Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-08-14
The stars in August-Augu.t meteors.

The Stars in August-August Heteors. |
New moon this month on the 10Th, first |
quarter the 23d, and full moon the Goth. |
The moon and Saturn are in conjunction |
on the day following the new moon, but
the distance between the two is rather too
great to attract particular notice. On the
day following Luna and Mercury exchange
compliments, a still greater distance sepa-
rating the two than that of the previous
day. Venus and the moon come as close
together on the 10th as they will be ON any
day during the month, and although not
quite close enough to offer remarkable
grouping, the effect will. be well worth
more than passing notice. Uranus next
receives attention, but as he himself is
rather too faint to be easily distinguished
the conjunction has no particular signif-
canoe. On the gath, the day after the
moon quarters, she and the warrior planet
pass each other at a distance of four de-
grees in declination apart, the planet being
the further south. The moon, two days
before the full, and Jupiter afford charm
ing celestial picture as they make their
way above the eastern horizon and travel
the heavenly arc in fairly close proximity
throughout the evening 1t is hard to
find our satellite apparently so very much
the larger that the planet. has a diameter
about forty times that Of the moon, or, in
other words, if we compare their volumes
and represent the moon as the size of
pea, Jupiter will be as large as pump
kin.
The month opened with Neptune as the
only morning star, all the beautiful
planets that are in palmer view being
grouped as evening stars, and as this sole
twinkler of the morning skies is rather too
abouts is most easily found by his imme-
date neighbors, which form the constella-
ton of the Bull, having Aldebaran as the
bright star. This group may be seen
| coming up obove the horizon just about
midnight, getting gradually later each sue
| cessiye evening, an avant courier of the
beautiful consultations that makes rhe
| Silks throughout the winter evenings SO
wonderfully radiant
| Venus, in her role of Hesperus, is the
first object in the western sky to attract
horizon, and those having sharp vision
and who know exactly where to look
could no doubt find this planetary queen
befor the sun was actually sunk to rest
The extreme brilliancy of Venus prevents
its clear definition when viewed through
an ordinary telescope, but still it presents
a beautifully-rounded globe. At the pres
ent time her form is what is called glib
bous, or half way between full and quar-
ter. just before she sets, her rival,
Jupiter, appears in the east; and the period
during which the two are visible increases
and offers charming planetary observa-
ton for those who are SO fortunately stu
ated that they can command both horizons
at the same time.
Saturn is gradually approaching the
sun and isin conjunction with the center of
the solar system on the Both, and his soft,
yellow light will be lost to US for some
time. When it reappears it will be on the
otheT siue of the sun rs one of the morn
ing stars. We can no 1orrg,eesc trace tbs tbs
course of the ringed planet that has been
of such great interest as an object lesson
in planetary antics, as he started from the
bonds of the curved horizon and travelled
to his highest point in the heavens, and
alternately approached and receded from
the bright star Regulus Such thing as
utter darkness must be unknown
to the inhabitants of Saturn, for
in addition to the rings there are
eight moons revolving about it.
The rings themselves are said to
consist of innumerable small satellites,
each having its own proper motion, but
give the appearance of rings. Birthdays
on this planet are much rarer occurrences
than are experienced by those of us who
are born on the Goth of February, as a
year there is equal to twenty-nine and a
half of our years. Hence it is possible
that the rosebuds of society in Saturn are
never called upon to undergo the wear and
tear of a second season.
Uranus is also an evening star, but is sc
\ 60. ls,fa hat 50, .,sl~
eye except when the circumstances are
particularly favorable. Even when viewed
through telescope he appears not unlike
a small golden marble.
Jupiter, the furthest east of the evening
planets, rises just as.the sun is about to
set and appears in the darkened back.
ground as though suddenly raised by some
enchanted power, sublime object that
cannot fail to impress every beholder.
The ruling constellation of the zodiac
this month is Sagittarius the Archer.
The Milky Way toward the south is al
this season well worth studying.
Pegasus, the winged horse, which may
be seen above the eastern horizon, il
the same constellation which eight
months ago was above the west
ern horizon. 1t will be observed
, and the point is well worth careful
noting, that the position of Pegasus is en-
, tlrely changed from that which it occupied
before sinking below the western horizon
in January last Then the head was Gloss
to the horizon, and on the left as one faced
the west. Now, though his head lies to
ward the left, it is much higher above the
horizon than the winged back In botf
cases, however, the horse is represented in
. an unnatural position, or at least in on,
that an animal could only assume by acct
dent. In the west there is little worthy o.
attention except the noble figure of Bootes
the herdsman, now more favorably placed
for study as a constellation than at AM
other season of the year
The big meteor seen few nights ago i,
: all parts of this state and as far north al
> | Worcester, Mass, was the, biggest ant
most brilliant revelation by far in the me
teoric line that August, one of the month";
for meteors, has bestowed. The ordinary
t common shooting stars" are not bigger
r most of them, than an apple; but it i.
fortunate that they are burned up and re
! duced to an impalpable dust by friction il
! entering the earth's dense atmosphere, 9th
, erwise even a stone no bigger than an ap
pie might, if it came from outer space
, hurt person some if it hit him fairly on tn
, head, for they came at a speed forty time
as great as that of cannon
! ball. The nearer they get to tn
! earth's surface the greater, of course
! is the power of attraction, and henc
| Of fbo;r S,,oad-opd this too 90 tho air ~