Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-03
THE HEAVENS In AUGUST.
Sights for Star Gazers-Movements of the
Sun and Moon-PIanets of the Northern
Skies-Fixed Stars Visible to the Naked

Skies-Fixed Stars Visible to the Naked
Eye.
Throughout the month of August the sun
hurries away toward the south and the days
shorten. More than nine degrees in north
erly declination separate the first and last
days of the month. The SUMS rising hour
yesterday morning was All, while its CORE
spending hour on the same day last month
was 4:33. At the close of the month the
| rising hour will be 5:26. Yesterday the sun set
at 7:15, while on the same day of last month
the setting hour was 1885, so that the day has
now shortened down to IA hours and 20
minutes.
Tuesday night the moon will be new, pass
ing into its first quarter on the 18th. 1t will
be full on the 10Th and pass into its last quar-
ter on the 96th. Dame Venus and the moon
were in conjunction just before daylight
this morning, and the beautiful CLAM
our of that planet was for short time
obscured. Mars pays his respects to the
moon on the 4th and Mercury on the
6th though the latter will maintain a
more respectful distance than the former
planet. Saturn, too, makes obeisance to the
moon, approaching very closely on the 1tll,
and early in the evening of the day follow
ing the moons first quarter Saturn will be
found very close to Mercury.
Jupiter in the Moon.
A beautiful celestial spectacle will be
afforded on the day following the moons
fullness, when Jupiter approaches it in the
early evening. Neptune, though hardly
bright enough to attract attention, also ap-
proaches very closely to the moon early in
the evening of the last quarter.
The month begins with Neptune as the
only morning star 1t is the eighth planet
from the sun, being distant 2Ss0, 100000 miles
A.. 7 ,1o
with the naked eve, but those who are
familiar with the constellation of the Bull,
and Aldebaran, its bright star. will find Nep-
tune close ut hand. Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn
and Uranus are grouped as the evening stars
for this month.
piter has made its appearance. Venus be-
comes the most brilliant planet in the west
ern sky. Each evening, as the month wears
on, she appears little higher in the
heavens, and on the day previous to that in
which she goes into perihelion-August2 2i-
Jupiter's appearance very near 10 the moon
affords a charming opportunity for celestial
observation. With the moon at its full,
sky, and Jupiter approaching its brightest
period; the heavens are, indeed, radiant with
brilliancy.
Some of the Wonders of Mars.
Mars is no longer an evening star, his ap-
pearance at that time having ceased three
days ago, when he went over into the early
morning hours Mars is not very bright
planet just now, but he may easily be seen
shining red in the southwestern sky at an
altitude of 45o. Scientists are still wonder
ing about those white spots in the Martial
polar regions, the constant enlargement of
which gives rise to the assumption that
there is a great polar snowstorm going on
over there. 1t takes Mars 6S7 of our days to
circle a he 81 re
obvious reasons why those white spots. If
they really do indicate polar snowstorms,
should not diminish very rapidly.
From July to September Mercury is an
evening star. He comes up DINNER and
DINNER in the eastern horizon as the month
passes, appearing each night q little later,
until toward the middle of next month he
passes over into the wee sma' hours and be-
comes a morning star. Mercury is at his
greatest angular distance from the sun on
the evening of the 10th. He is very small,
and may be found though with difficulty, in
the constellation of the Lion. Those who
look for him would do well to turn their
glasses toward that constellation on the
night of August l3 when Mercury shines
more brightly than at any other time during
the month. Mercury Is the planet nearest
the sun, being distant from that body only
36, 600 900 miles, almost a next-door neighbor,
In fact. 1t is the smallest of the planets,
being only 1892 miles in diameter. As its
year is only sS of our days, paydays, birth
days, Christmases and other holidays that
we enjoy at long intervals must be very
monotonous occurrences over there.
The Largest of the Planets.
Jupiter is an evening star, as he has been
for the last two months. He approaches his
brightest period early in September. and he
may be found toward the west-southwest as
soon as the sun is out of sight The night
before the moon reaches it's fullness Jupiter
approaches very near 1t, and on tnat occa-
eli OF fha1 xui1 ho n ho
to see them close together in dazzling
brightness. To be seen at their best they
must be viewed early in the evening, and
while you are watching, Venus comes
majestically upon the scene. adding luster
to the most brilliant celestial spectacle OF
the month.
Saturn's soft golden light may also be seen
every evening until September IL. He ap-
proaches very close to the moon August Z,
next Friday night, being nearer to that
body, as we view it, than any other planet
save Neptune, who approaches very close to
fair Luna on the night OF August 26. Saturn
forms one of very beautiful cluster of
planets that may be seen on the evening of
the 18th. At that time he approaches very
close to Mercury, and as they will be almost
hand in hand early in the evening with the
moon in its first quarter, the sight will be a
fine one and we'll worth seeing. Saturn ap-
pears later and later toward the close of the
month. He proceeds in the same general
direction as Venus, bearing slightly to the
northward.
Uranus, the seventh planet from the sun,
although an evening star is invisible to the
naked eye, except under the most favorable
1t is ], $50, COO 0O0 miles from
the sun, and its year is "a times as loDgas
ours. Daylight is unknown on this planet.
Only One Morning Star.
Neptune, the only morning star, may be
found very near to the moon as it passes
into its last quarter; so near, in fact, that it
will not be visible to the naked eve at that
time. OF the fixed stars, Arcturus will be
visible in the early evening, following like
an obedient page in the wake of Venus as
she rises in the western sky when once the
sun is down. Arcturus passes slightly nearer
the North Pole toward the close of the
month and gains in brilliancy.
Regulus. a white star, rises little ahead
the same declination. Sirius-Canis Ma1oris
-'the dog star" will be found in the south
ern heavens early in the morning. Only an
will keep awake to see Sirius but
he shines there bright enough to reward one
for long vigil. Those who remain awake
to watch for Sirius will be doubly rewarded
by q fine view of the yellow star Aldebaran,
Alpha Taura, which may be best seen in the
west in the early morning. The constella-
ton of the Bull and Neptune, the only morn
ing star, shining brightly close by, are other
familiar sights in the heavens close to Aide |
baran. Urso Minor, the North Star, will |
form conspicuous fixture in the August |
heavens, as will also Canopus, one of the big |
yest of fixed stars, which shines most |
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