Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1891-10-24
Astronomers Conceive the Idea of
Creating an Imaginary Sun
Regulating Motion.
Some Peculiar Features Of the Plan
cts are Yiyidly Set Be
fore Us.

there was but little change in this equality
noticeable before the present month came
IN Long before its close, however, we
shall be quite forcibly aware Of the fact
that the days are getting much shorter,
and that the nights are at the same time
growing longer. The crisp, clear October
evenings viii be full Of enjoyment for those
who like to watch the movements of the
members Of the solar family, so closely
allied in destiny with their earthly broth
er, and whose very light and life are de-
rived from the same great source.
The sun has left his 2. p. c upon a poor
perspiring community in a most impressive
manner, the like of which has rot been
known for years, departed to smile upon
the antarctic regions for the next six
months, during which time his light will
be an almost unknown quantity in the
home Of our own polar bear, and of the
icebergs which in the summer months are
driven down to obstruct the paths OF ocean
commerce.
While we are accustomed to regard the
sun as the measurer of GaIe we are apt to
overlook the fact that the period OF two
successive transits Of the sun that we see
is too irregular for us to get clocks to con-
form to, and that astronomers had to con-
ceive The idea Of creating an imaginary
sun which like the stars, would be regular
in motion. The interval between two sue
cessiye transits Of this imaginary sun is
termed mean solar day, and is equal to
the average Of all the solar days in the
year Ii is this TO which our clocks and
thermometers are adjusted.
The difference b-tween the place Of the
real and Imaginary sun is Familiarity
known as the equation of time, which Is a
varying quantity, as sometimes the imag
mary sun is ahead Of the real one, while
at other times it is astern of it. We must
also be careful to note the fact that the sun
dial marks apparent time only, and con-
sequently its indications will only agree
with the clock time when the real and
imaginary suns happen to coincide or pass
the meridian at the same
instant THIS actually occurs four
times in a twelvemonth, about April
Is, June IL, Aug. 81 and December a.
The new moon was ushered in on the
% and is called the Hunters Moon. and
next to the Harvest Moon is the most adj
mired and best known of the year. Our
satellite is still point in the ecliptic near
enough to the sign Of Aries for her 10
make a small angle with the eastern hor-
ZION when rising, though larger than that
of last mont s moon, which rose for 5ey-
eral nights with comparatively slight
change in the time OF her appearance.
The bright nights afforded by the unusual
amount Of moonlight were supposed
in days of old 10 be a special inter-
position of Providence in behalf of the
huntsmen in the pursuit Of their favorite
sport.
After the full on Oct. II, the moon rises
for three consecutive nights with an
average difference considerably less than
three-quarters Of an hour The commune
tions for the month are sixteen in NUM-
Der, of rather more than usual OF these,
the moon figures in nine. She has already
made her visit to Mercury, Saturn and
Venus, and exchanged compliments with
Uranus On Oct IA Jupiter and the
gowing crescent came TO their nearest
point for the month, but the too brilliant
face of the three quarter will prevent this
meeting having much significance even
were 1t a very much closer one than It is.
On Oct. 20, the far-disrant Neptune Is IN
conjunction; ON the 2Sth Saturn for a
second time in the month; ON the 18th
Mars, and on the 3lst-Uranus, also fer
second time.
Jupiter, although having passed away
from his position opposition to the sun
when he rose at sunset and looked down
from the zenith at midnight, is still glorl-
Gus 10 gaze upon as the early evening
twilight reveals him bigger and higher in
his path across the heavens, and be sinks
to rest below the western horizon in the
small hours of the morning lie is now
in the constellation of AQuarius, and, as he
remains about year in each constellation,
it Is fairly easy to locate his surroundings.
While no present holding his own and
keeping up his court with apparently uu-
diminished brilliancy, he is slowly but
surely approaching his downfall, when he
Will have to yield to the more daUiing
lustre Of the queen of all the planets
which will very shortly appear 20 grace
the beauties of the American twilight
Venus has now fairly Joined the galaxy
of evening stars, and her shining, tla-
mond. like rays vii, in another six weeks
be plainly visible shortly after the
sun has set, rs the planet il gradually
withdrawing from the pow rtui sunlight
that has iuguli1i her for several months.
Before the year closes we shall nave
promise If her gain assuming the oewten-
ing aspect that made her s1 prominent an
object in the early months Of the year,
when she w4. more than four times her
present size The constellation, will con
tilue her course away from us until she
reaches the turthest point in her coqaet-
fish career early in December when She
will once more turn her face to the north
ward
Uranus Is the third Of the evening star,
and although well beyond our normal
vision. can ba found with telescopic aid.
He is a fairly important member Of the
planetary hmiIy for the month as he Is
twice in conjunction with the moon. once
today and again on the last day Of tue
month, just oefore the old moon turns IN
to the new. In addition To this some
what uuusal occurrence the planet is IN
superior injunction with TIE sun an the
18th. and after that date viii be ciassed
with the morning stars. OF course,
such proximity "a the centre Of the solar
system renders ii more than usually 3ish
cult matter 10 find him. On the 26th