Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-13
THE PLANETS FIELD.
POSITIONS or THE HEAVENLY BODIES
THESE MAY NIGHTS.
Two Now Moons 20 he Seen THIS Month
A Transit Of MISUNDERSTANDING
aud Evening stars.

and sets shortly before O'CLOCK, giving W
fourteen hours Of sunlight, which VIII be
extended three-quarters Of an hour before
the month closes. Thelatest and ioveiiest
OF the spring months brings soft, serene
eyenincs that tempt US TO open-air life.
Az the long twilight fades and the shadows
become more marked we are treated TO the
ennobline and ever-changng panorama OF
the star;it heavens, with the myriad hosts
of suns peopling it's mysterious depths.
The Nav moon comes In on the 9TH,
Quarters ON the 18th, is full on the Esd. and
II, last quarter on the 30tb. AS the last
quarter of the April moon occurred on the
list, we are treated TO Eve phases OF her
lunar majesty tor the month-something
whioh only takes place in one other month
in this year, December, when there Will be
two new moons.
There is conjunction to-day between
Jupiter and the moon, and on the 9th be-
tween the moon and Venus. This shows
that the two rival planets, so close to-
pether, are already fairly well separated,
and that Venus Is getting in such danger
Gus proximity to the sun that her light IS
becoming DINNER. On the day OF new
moon there ia conjunction with Mercury,
and on the following day with Mars. On
the 10th Luna and the ringed planet are
close neighbors, and on the Goth Uranus 10
called upon. Neptune aud tho moon are
In conjunction on the 9th, the round OF
monthly visits being completed with q Sc
cond conjunction with Jupiter on the day
the moon enters her last quarter.
TOTAL ECLIPSE.
The most important event OF the month
for the moon is her total eclipse, which oc-
ours on the 23d, the day of full moon.
L. II ,.nfnrfnnaAalu for not
visible in this latitude, although 1t is quite
generally visible throughout the western
part Of the Pacific Ocean, Australia. ASIA;
Africa. and Europe; the time of the total
eclipse one hour and twenty minutes. =,
To lovers of astronomical events the
fight of Mercury over the lace OF the sun
ON the eth is by far the most important oc-
cnrrenee for the month with which we
have to deal in this part of the world. IN
luckily the event does not take place until
the sun is about to set and our o0serva-
ton will be limited to what is technically
known as the first contact. People on the
other side of the Mississippi Will be more
fortunate this time, as they can trace the
planet for quite long distance, although,
even with them, the two Will sink out of
Heht below the western horizon with the
iourney unfinished. The real value OF
The transit to science lies in tho
fact that we get additional evidence
10 support, or controvert, existing
theories. This most volatile Of planets
has, among other peculiarities, certain
discrepancy in its motion, which has been
a regular thorn in the flesh OF many an as
tronomer. From the many observations
~ thetransit that will be madel 1t is expected
that corrections will be derived which Will
assist in removing the discorGance between
the posltion of Mercury in his orbit, as dc
rived from theory and observation. WINE
the transit is in progress the side OF tne
planet next us will be destitute of sunlight,
so that there will be an excellent chance
to observe its physical appearance
A small telescope or good opera-glass,
IN which n piece Of smoked glass has been
adapted TO the eye-piece, will be required
TO observe the planet, which will appear TO
be projected on the suns disk as beautl-
fui round spot, moving slowly across the
sun from east TO west. II the telescope be
powerful enough faint halo or light Will
be seen around the planet. when peculiar
characteristic is supposed to be an atmos-
phere enveloping Mercury. Astronomers
have also noticed whitish spot which ap-
pears sometimes on one side OF the planet
centre and at other times on the opposite
side.
MORNING STAR.
Jupiter is morning star, rising two hours
before the sun and shining so brightly that
early risers Will have no difficulty at all IN
distinguishing him, as there Is nothing az
that time TO compare with him IN orl-
liancy. lie has two conjunctions during
the month with the moon, the second OF
which. on the 8Oth, will be fairly close and
will present very pretty picture, although
the early hour will preclude many
from viewing it. Sharp eyes have lately.
been directed toward the shadow OF one OF
the moons of Jupiter. This shadow APP
peared double, indicating that the tiny
moon which cast it is also double. Since
the first hint of the discovery many oDser-
yations have been made, all tending to
show that this particular satellite OF the
greatest of planets is double-a dot OF
moon revolving about its parent. Jupiter
Is increasing in size and brllllancy, his IL
ameter being 49, at the close of the month.
Venus follows Jupiter an hour later III
her time of rising, but while her rival gets
up early each succeeding morning she
postpones the event TO O later hour, ana as
she gets nearer the sun in consequence, her
light is gradually being hidden. she turns,
however, more OF her bright lace 10 the
earth as she recedes from 1t, 50 that the
shortening in of her diameter 10
not so apparent. She Is gradually
moving TO the northward, and ls at
present in the constellation of Aqua
RUS. Astronomers have been devoting
great deal of study recently 10 the DARK
spots on Venus. which are now thought TO
be of permanent character and probably
due to some configuration of the land Ike
those of the planet Mars. Owing, how
ever. TO the great density of the atmos-
phere surrounding the planet the success
OF these delicate observations has been
greatly interfered with.
Uranus is evening star, and although
quite favorably situated for observation,
he IL too small an object 10 be readlly DIS
cerned with the unaided vision. Spica,
however, can be easily distinguished III
the southeastern heavens soon after dark,
and eight degrees to the eastward is the
planet, which is moving TO the westward
toward the star. When once found, the
track OF the slowly-movlng planet can be
readily followed. as it takes him eighty
four years to make one revolution about
the sun.
EVENING STAR.
Neptune is the evening star and sets two
hours after the sun goes TO rest. lie is
still in the constellation of Taurus, and his
position will be fairly we'll marked on the
9th, when he is in conjunction with the
waning moon. Mars has gone so far from
Us that il was with considerable difficulty
that we can pick him out, as he sets almost
before twilight has fairly turned 10 dark
ness. His declination is 22.l9 north, and
he is in the constellation OF the Bull. q lew
degrees north of the first magnitude star
Aldebaran. the most prominent of the
group.
Saturn will remain throughout the
month favorably situated for observation.
He comes 10 the meridian at sos this eve
ming, getting there some two hours earlier
toward the end of the month. He is In
creasing his distance from us, but small
telescope still affords a means of studying
the ringed planet. Hinged no longer, as
far as we can see, as he has turned toward
Us in such position that the rings are
blended with the main body of the planet.
As it will be thirty years before these
same conditions again obtain, it would be
advisable Torso of us to take real good
look ut the present situation.
Ali Of the conspicuous stars except
Sirius, the Greater Dog, and Betelguese
and Rigel OF Orion. which have been in
view the past few months, viii remain in
the field of vision through May. Capella
OF the Charioteer will be in the northwest,
Castor and Poilux, the Twins. in the west
Procyon, the Lesser Dog. in the southwest;
Regulus of the Lion also in the south
west, but high up toward the zenith;
Arcturus OF the Cowherd Is in the