Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-10-22
A New Epoch ig Astronomical An
mails is Ushered i'm the Pres.
ent Month.
Astronomers Conceive the Idea of
Creating an Imaginary Sun
Regulating Motion.
some Peculiar Features OF the Plan
cts are Yividly 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 forcibiy aware of the fact
that the days are getting much shorter.
aud that the nights are at the same time
growing longer. The crisp, clear October
evenings will 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. upon 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
lcebergs 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 measrer OF time 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
cessive transits of this imaginary sun is
termed d mean solar day, and is equal to
the average Of all the solar days in the
year. 1t is this to which our clocks and
chronometers are adjusted.
The difference 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 mag
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 twelvemonth, about April
Is, June IA, Aug. 81, and December "a
The new moon was ushered in on the
Cd and is called the Hunters Moon, and
next to the Harvest Moon is the most ad-
mired and best known of the year. Our
satellite is still point in the ecliptic near
enough to the sign of Aries for her to
make a small angle with the eastern hOr-
lion when rising, though larger than that
of last month s moon, which rose for sew
era 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 to 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 conjun
lions 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. "A Jupiter and the
81 owing 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 it very much closer one than it is.
On Oct 90 the far-distant Neptune is in
conjunction; on the 29fh Saturn for
second time in the month; on the 29th
Mars, and on the 3lst-Uranus, also for
second time.
Jupiter, although having passed away
from his position in opposition to the sun
when he rose at sunset and looked down
from the zenith at midnight, is still gl0ri-
Gus to gaze upon as the early evening
twilight reveals him bigger and higher In
his path across the heavens. and he sinks
tc rest below the western horizon In the
small hours of the morning. He is now
in the constellation of Aquarius, and, as be
remains about year in each constellation,
it is fairly easy to locate his surroundings.
While at present holding his own and
keeping up his court with apparently I'M
diminished brilliancy, he is slowly but
surely approaching his downfall, when he
will have to yield to the more dazzling
lustre of the queen of all the planets,
the beauties of the American twilight.
Venus has now fairly joined the galaxy
of evening stars, and her shining, dia-
mond- like rays will in another six weeks
be plainly visible shortly after the
sun has set, as the planet is gradually
withdrawing from the pow rful sunlight
| that has ingulfed her for several months.
Before the year closes we shall have
promise of her gain assuming the bewltch-
ing aspect that made her So prominent an
object in the early months OF the year,
when she was more than four times her
present size. The constellation, will con-
tlnue her course away from US until she
reaches the furthest point in her c0quet-
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 be found with telescope cid.
He is fairly important member of the
planetary family for the month, as he is
twice in conjunction with the moon, once
today and again on the last day of the
month, just before the old moon turns in
to the new. In addition to this some
what unusal occurrence the planet Is in
superior conjunction with the sun On the
25th, and after that date will be classed
with the morning stars. Of course,
| such proximity to the centre OF the solar
system renders it more than usually diff
cult matter to find him. On the 10Th
Uranus and mercury are in conjunction.
Saturn has lost his rings, which have
been gradually disappearing ever since
1885. when they were open to their widest
extent The reason for this somewhat
startling announcement, which very posi-
bly, may be found in the Lost and Found
column of the Celestial Register, is &C.
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 dista ace
separating US from Saturn. it is not visible
to us here on this planet. On October 80
tbe plane of the ring will pass TIN ough the
sun, shortly after which it will reappear