Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-10-24

1885. when they were open to their widest
extent. The reason for this somewhat
startling announcement, which very posi-
bly, may be found 10 the Lost and Found"
column of the Celestial Register, is ac-
counted for the fact that the plane of the
ring passes through the earth, and is con-
sequently seen edgewise. As the thickness
Of the ring probably does not exceed one
hundred miles, an insignificant amount
when one deals with the immense distance
separating Us from Saturn, it is not visible
TO US here on this planet On October 30
the plane Of the ring will pass through the
sun, shortly after which it will reappear
and another change will occur The face
of the ring, that has for the last fifteen
years been ilumined by the sun, will then
pass into shadow and the other face will
bask in the bright sunlight in its turn for
a similar interval, when the ring will
again disappear and so on
These peculiar features Of the planet are
taken advantage of by those who will no
doubt be found to be otherwize than
weather-wise to indicate terrible storms
and gales; but TO those who are not in the
weather ring it seems very difficult to see
Just what bearing the two have upon each
VbLCi 1dtulA > pane 91ttoF A&ub Cai bC
seen in the eastern sky just before thelittle
Jumps Of daylight begin to make them
selves visible above the horizon.
Mercury is morning star, but he keeps
so much within the suns influence that it
is only with difficulty and under very fav-
orable circumstances that he can be seen.
Only sharp eyes viii be able to find him
about eight degrees south of the sunrise
point a little less than an hour before
sunup. This is, however, positively his
last appearance for the year, as he is again
drawing toward the sun. with which he
is in superior conjunction on the 9th.
after which he will be an evening star.
Mars is morning star and will continue
as such the remainder Of the year. While
of very little moment just at present he is
gradually coming toward US and approach
ing visibility. In another year he will be
the all-absorbing topic of conversation
among both amateur and professional
astronomers, as he will then be in opposi
ton to the sun and in his most favorable
location for interesting observation. He
is also in the constellation of the Lion,
in its conjunction with both Saturn and
the moon, the former on the 18th and the
latter on the 29th
Neptune has already completed a little
more than half bis course as morning star
and his general location as fairly well in
dlCated by the waning moon, with which
he Is in conjunction on the Goth. He is
far too small, at his tremendous distance
from US, to admit of his being of particu
lar Importance to any but the scientist.
Taurus is the field in which Neptune Is at
present wandering, and the bright star
Aldebaran serves to show were this con-
stelation IS 10 be found.
At o'clock at night, in the opening
days of the month, the prominent FIRST
magnitude stars in the field of view were
Arcturns, low down in the west; Vega,
just west of the zenith, Affair, southwest
of Vega; Femalhant low in the southeast;
Aldebaren, east of the Plelades and just
rising above the horizon, and Capela in
the northwest The Pleiades, the most
beautiful cluster in the skies, rise early in
the east.
An additional charm has been added to
this remarkable group since the camera
has detected nebulous matter around tie
principal stars that are too far distant
for the eye of man tC perceive. Being
situated about half way between the
northerly and southerly poles of the
heavens this constellation when above
the horizon, can be seen all over the
babitabIe globe, Originally seven stars of
the group were visible to the naked eye,
and in Gracian mythology they represent
ed the daughters Of Atlas Only SIX stars
are now vislble.-N. Y. Times