Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-02
NOVEMBER HEAVENS.
sights That May BE Seen Through an Opera
GIAss-slackening Of the Speed OF the
sun-Effect OF the Moon and Snn ON tho

| Tides.
| November is an interesting month for star
| gazing, particularly II one can reinforce the
! naked eye with an opera glass or neid
glass. At 10 O'Clock in the early evenings OF
the month, and at O'Clock at its close, some
of the finest consultations are above the
horizon, while over us and about US fs most
of smaller objects, interesting TO study even
with unafded vision.
The speed of the sun perceptibly slackens
in November, says the New York Times,
there being but seven degrees increase IN
southerly declination for the month, whereas
last month there were II degrees. The rate
of motion will continue to decrease until the
time of the winter solstice is reached. when
the speed will again be accelerated. The de-
crease in the length Of the day for the month
is little over an hour, being more in the
morning than in the afternoon: The oay Is
now almost six hours shorter than 1t was at
the summer solstice, a fact that becomes Iar
too apparent as the chiiliness OF evening
overtakes us at an earlier hour from week 70
week. The month is quite noticeable one
in astronomical circles. as 1t contains two
eclipses-one Of the moon on the 10Th ano
one Of the sun on the goth: The latter Is Is
tude but visible quite generally in ancartlc
regions, in which, in its greatest magnitude.
it embraces somewhat over one-half the DISK
of Old Sol.
The November moon comes in promptly
with the first day Of the month, and this
early appearance admits Of there being an
other new moon on the last day Of the
month. thus giving US the somewhat un-
usual number Of 1ive phases for the calendar
month. There are six conjunctions for NO
vember, in which Luna plays more OF less
prominent part. The first event is with Mer-
curry to-day, but the crescent as well as the
planet is far too pale for us to see, both being
engulfed in the powerful rays of the sun.
Tomorrow Venus and the moon come quite
close together, and we shall see pretty pic
ture in the Western sky, as the young moon,
seemingly poised on the crest OF some aerial
wave, drifts down toward the horizon, all
gilded by the sun that has but barely passed
from view, and carries almost in her arms
the fairest gem Of the evening heavens.
the 10th, but the four degrees separating the
two hardly tend toward enhancing the beau
ties Of the panorama. As the meeting with
the sSe sht is
effect, even were the planet within our
natural vision. Saturn bears about the same
relation to the waning that Jupiter does to
the growing moon, and the conjunction is Of
but little interest. Mars closes the record
for the month without adding the least to
its beauties.
of the month will be visible here and also in
Asia, Africa, Europe, the Atlantic, and the
eastern portion of the Pacific ocean. The
moon remains five hours and a half In the
shadow, the period Of total eclipse lasting
one hour and half The entire magnitude
Of the eclipse Is one-third larger than the
face of the moon. The performance begins
not drop until after 8 O'Clock the following
morning, when, to reverse the usual order
OF things, the chief performer makes his ap-
pearance instead of his exit
The Effect Upon the Tides.
The question of tides and the part that
the moon and sun play In regulating the
height Of the water does not seem to be
clearly understood. 1t is quite the popular
thing to attribute tidal action to the moon
only, whereas, in point of fact, It is caused
by the joint action Of both sun and moon,
and it is due to this double influence which
sometimes pulls in the same and at other
times in q contrary direction that we have
the ever-varying phases in the times and
heights of high and low water. Tide waves
occur simultaneously at points of the earth's
surface Numerically opposed to each other,
and are termed superior and inferior, ac-
cording as they are formed on the side next
cannot be raised at one point without being
lowered at another, it follows that between
each of these waves Of high water there are
of the surface corresponding to
what we call low water.
At the period of Change" or new moon,
when it and the sun are in conjunction, that
Is to say, when they are on the same side of |
the earth, and at the period of full moon, |
when they have the earth between them, the !
greatest tidal effect Is produced, as at such |
times the solar and lunar influences are ex-
erted in the same straight line. This is the |
period of springs, and should it occur when
both luminaries happen to be at their near |
est approach to the earth the effect is greatly |
enhanced. If at such times we are also |
cd fO n nOrtl4aaterIV
those of us situated along the river front in |
the lower portion of the city and other simi-
lar places will DO well to consider the posi-
bility of our cellars being flooded.
When the moon and sun are 800 apart-in
1uadrature, as it is termed-their actions !
neutralize each other to q large extent by |
under both sun and moon Each pulls in
direction to the other, and thus the |
;ides at such times are less in every way and
get the name of neaps.
The Center of the System.
The sun is the center and controlling
'orce of the system to which we belong, and
ais attractive power upon the earth, as
whole, Is vastly greater than that Of our
puny satellite; for, though
;he suns mean distance from US is nearly
80 times that of the moon, 1t is more than
by his mass, which is g.
100 900 times greater than that Of the moon.
the latter's influence upon the
;ides is nearly two and half times more
han that of the sun.
At that delightful moment when night is
lot yet and day is no more, and when twi-
light has already begun to cast its soft tones
md fantastic reflections over everything, If
We cast our eyes toward the western sky we
hall be rewarded by seeing the fairest of
III the planets as she makes her first appear
nee after her many weeks retirement from
,ur celestial tableaux. She comes brilliant
md smiling, but is not as large as when we
,ade her goodbye and Jupiter was left to
eign in her stead; but she is fast growing,
md as she comes nearer she will appear
arger and larger, SO that before she again
disappears she will have regained her full
lie and radiance.
Jupiter, as the month opens, is still the
tar performer Of the company, and. rising
arlier on each succeeding evening, will be
prominent object throughout the month,
.lthough his disk is daily decreasing in size.
Ie is in the constellation Of the Water
searer, and now sets shortly after 10 o'clock
n the morning.
Saturn the Morning Star
Saturn is morning star, is in the constel-
alton of the Virgin, and is also gradually in
reasing in size as he gets nearer the earth.
lie has again donned his jewelry. as his rings
an now once more be seen, and they will be
nore plainly visible as he continues to turn
n his axis and present q different face to US
rom what we have lately been accustomed
o seeing. Mercury remains q morning star
ntil the 9th, when he passes the sun to re-
ppear on his opposite side as an evening
tar. We are not now permitted to gaze on
he face of this planet, as he is far too close
o the sun, and, in fact, we shall not again
ee him until after the year draws 30 a close. ,
Mars is also morning star, and, although ,
o small point that his ruddy glare cannot
q uerceiVod at present. He is. however,