Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-08-14
HEAVENS IN AUGUST.
SIGHTS THAT MAY BE SEEN BY STAR
GAZERS THIS MONTH.
movements Of the sun and Moon-Pianets
That iiIuminc Our Northern
kkics-Stars.

Throughout the month of August the
sun huIries away toward the south and the
DAYS shorten. says tho New York Times.
More than nine degrees in northerly de-
clnation separate the first and last days OF
tho month. The suns rising hour this
morning was 4;51 while It's corresponding
hour on the same day last month was 4:33 .
At the close OF the month the rising hour
VIII be 5:26. To-day the sun sets at 7:1j,
while on the same day Of last month the
| hctting-hour was 1886, SO that the day has
! now shortened down TO II hours and 20
minutes.
Tuesday night the moon will be new.
passing into Its first quarter on the 18Th.
II viii he full on the 18th and pass into its
last quertcr on the 26th Dame Venus
anu III" moon will be IN conjunction Just
| tciore daylight tomorrow morning, and
the beautiful giamor OF that planet VIII
i)r short time be obscurcd. Mars paws
| Lis respects 10 the moon on the daY fol-
lowing. and Mercury on the 9Th, though
the latter will maintain "a moro respectful
distance than the former planet. Saturn,
too, makes obelsancc to the moon, ap-
| preaching very closely oil the 1th, and
early IN the evening Of tho day follow NJ
| Tie moons first quarter Saturn VIII Ice
found very close 10 Mercury
beautiful celestial spectacle Will he
Afforded on the day following the moons
| fuiness. when Jupiter approaches II Ia the
early evening. Neptune, though hardly
bright enough 10 attract attention. also
| approaches very closely 10 the moon carry
In the evening OF the last quarter.
The month begins with Neptune as tie
only morning star. Ii j. the eighth planet
from the sun. being distant. 2,S-o.0lO,0oO
miles from that body. 1t will be difficult
to SEQ with the naked eye but those who
are familiar with the constellation of the
Bun, and Aldebaran. is bright star, Will
find Neptune close AZ hand. Mercury.
jupiter. Saturn. and Uranus are grouped
a the evening stars for this month.
vfNUs ~ TIE VEST.
n soon as the sun l. down. and after
| Jupiter has made rs Appearance. Venus
becomes the most brilliant planet IN the
western sky. Each evening. "a the month
wears On. size appear, little higher IN the
heavens. and on the lay previous 10 that
IN WIN h she goes into pcrlhellon-Auguot
Ist-Jupiter's appearance very near To
the moon affords charming opportunity
| for celestial observation. WITH the moon
AT It's full, Venus WcuOIsly lovely n
the western sky and Jupiter approaching
its brightest period. tine heavens are i'll
decd radiant wlth tri.lbncv.
Mars is 10 longer an evening star, his
appearance AZ that time having ceased
three DAYS ago. when he went over into
/ the carly morning hours. Mars Is not
| very bright planet lust how. but ne W1r
| carly he seen shining red IN the south
western SKY at Gn altitude %. As. Seen
| fists are stlll wondering about those white
s'ot, IN tie Martial polar regions. the con-
| slant enlargement ct winch gives use T.
/ the q. SUN ptiou that there is a great polar
~ g. fl,r o.. t4rf.l
/ Mars asa 4 our days To circle once around
/ tie SUI. so That there ere obvious reasons
/ why those white spots. If tlry really go
/ Indicate polar su0w-stJTE> shOIld not iii
( MlUi.h ycrr rapidly.
! From July tO September Mercury IS an
evening star. lie cores up dImmer and
dinner in the eastern horizon rs the
month pisces appearing cach night 4 little
! later. until towarl the middle of next
month bee PASSES over INTO the wee sma
/ hours ana iccOucs "a morning star. Mer-
/ curry a at his greatest angular distance
! from the san on tho evening of the 18TH.
/ iic is very small. and may he found.
1 enough with difficulty. IL the coustcl-
/ iAton OF the Lon. Those vino
/ looA for him would Do well to turn their
| r.a~~c, toward tnat constellation on tie
night If August 9TH. when Mercury shines
uare brightly than at any other time
| during the month Mercury i the planet
/ nearest the sun. benz distant from that
/ body only 3i 100000 miles, almost a next
| door ueighbOr, IN TACT. f. l. the smallest
! Oi the planets. being ONLY 2.91, miles ~ di-
ameter. A. ~ wear ia on,y oighiy-elGnt of
/ our days pav-da.-. birthdays. ChTstmases,
and other hoild - that We ENJOY at long
/ intervals must be- very monOtOuOUs occur
RANGES over there.
JUIIIra AND TIE MOON.
Jupiter is an evening star, Is he has been
| for the last two months. lie approaches
/ his brightest period early in september,
/ and he may Toe found toward the west
! southwest as soon as the sun Is out II
SIGHT The night before the moon reaches
its fuiness Jupiter approaches very near II.
and on that occasion, August 18th, there
will be q fine chance To see them close to-
| ccthor in dazzling brightness. 10 be seen
! ~ their bet tney must Ice viewed early IN
/ the evening. and while you are WATCHING
/ Venus comes ma'eStlcallv upOn the scene,
adding lustre t. tie most brilliant celestial
spectacle of the mouth.
| Saiurn's soft golden light may also ic
seen every evening until september 18th.
/ lie approaches very close 10 the moon
I August 7th lneSt Frda, night. beng
| nearer 10 that BODY. "a we view ID, than any
| other planet save Neptune, who approaches
! very close 20 far Luna on the MINT OF
| August 10Th. Saturn forms one OF very
! beautiful cluster OF planets that may be
! seen on the evening OF the Eth. At
| that time he approaches very close t.
| Mercury. and rs they Will be almost hand
IN hand carly IN he evening with the
moon III its first quarter the ght Will be
| n fine one and well worth seeing. Saturn
appoars later ana later toward the close OF
! the month. He proceeds in the same
general direction n Venus, bearing slight
| Nv 10 the nOIthward.
Uranus. the seventh planet from the sun.
| although an evening star. il Invisible to
| the naked eye. except under the mos IT,
vorablc circumstances. 1t Is l,7s0,0O0 90
milo. from The sun, and its year Is eighty
| four times a. long rs ours. DaynSht j. un-
| known on this planet
NEPTUNE, the only morning star may be
| found very near 10 the moon a. 1t passes
! into IT, last quarter, SO near, IN fact. that
4 will not be yisi lc 10 the naked eye at
that time. OF the liked stars Arcturus
| Will be visible in the early evening, fol-
loving like an obeiient page III the wake
! of Venus - she rises IL the western SKY
when once the sun Is down. Arcturus
passes slightly nearer the north pole
toward the close OF the month and gains
III briliaucy.
Regulus, Il white star, rises little ahead
of ATcturus, III the sane direction anu with
the same dechuatiOn. Sirius -tdptS VI yCrtS
the doc star" Will be found In the
southern heavens early in the morning.
Only an enthusiast Will keep awake 70 see
Sims but be shines there bright enough
to reward one for q long vigil. lnose
who remain awake 10 watch for Sirius Will
he doublv rewarded by fine view of the
yellow star Aldebaran. A1td IawG' whlch
NAV be best seen IN the west IN the early
morning. The Constellation Of the Bull
and Nsptune. the only morning star,
shining brightly close by, are other familiar
| SIGHTS in the heavens close TO Aldebaran.
| frSa Minor, the North star Will form "a
| consnicuous fixture in the August heavens,
rs win also Campus, one of the biggest OF
fine fixed stars. which shines most brightly