Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-06-29
A MONTH OF BRIGHT STARS.
Planetary Forecast Of the Heavens for
July.

From the New York Times.
July Is the month when outdoor life is found
most attractive and those who take pleasure in
the study OF the gem-studded heavens will find
many favorable conditions beneath the grand
sky reach under which to pursue their observa-
lions. The planets, the moon and the summer
stars make the July nights, whether at sea-
shore or mountain resort, as beautiful q
dream. The earth has her mission to perform,
for she will be in aphelion on the 18th at is
pm. She is then some 5000. 600 miles further
from the sun than she was six months ago. We
OF the north temperate zone have every reason
to be grateful that the suns heat is mercifully
tempered by its greater distance.
The sun rises on the LIST at 1886 am and sets
at 7:30 Pm, making the length of the day
fourteen hours and fifty-four minutes. 1t rises
on the 3lst at 459 and sets the same day at 7:14,
showing decrease in the days length Of al
most three-quarters of an hour.
The new moon comes in late on the 5th lust
in time for conjunction with Mercury, which,
OF course, we cannot see, owing to the over
powering rays of the sun. The same can be
said to almost the same extent with the monthly
meeting between the slim crescent Of the de-
parting moon on the 4th and the planet Venus
as well as that of the growing crescent on the
9th and the planet Mars. From these three
meetings, SO close together. we can form some
thing OF an idea of the close proximity Of the
three planets that help to light up the morning
SKY. On the 10th the moon and Saturn are ut
their closest for the month, but rs there are
three or four degrees of declination between
them there is not that interest attending these
meetings that is to be had when they come
closer together. On the 14th comes uranus'
turn and on the Path Jupiter's
Jupiter Is the most radiant and interesting
twlnkler in the morning skies. Before mid,
night he comes looming above the eastern hor1-
zon and rises IN stately grandeur until he gets
TO his 1uil height In the zenith. He is growing
larger and more brilliant with each succeeding
appearance. and in midsummer his disk will
attain its full size for the season. and he will
reign an undisputed sovereign of the glitteriuc
hosts. He comes to our meridian and bears
due south at $50 o'clock on the 18th and ia in
conjunction with the moon on the Oath He is
well situated for telescope observation. so that
renewed interest can be taken in the study of
his satellites and the softly blended hues of his
varying belts. His right ascension on the lst
Is twenty-three hours eighteen minutes, his de-
c.lnatlon five degrees firty-threc minutes soutb
and lie is in the constellation OF the Water
bearer.
Saturn is the most prominent of the evening
planets and he shines with mild. yellowsh light
Just east OF the first magnitude star Reeuius,
from which he slowly but perceptiblv recetes
Bereft OF his rings he offers an unusual picture
to our eyes and is in the state in which he was
many years ago, when the famous dispute arose
as to whether he really was entitled to be called
ringed planet. The moon ard Saturn are in
conjunction on the 10th, when the growing
crescent ard the bright planet would be in
charming contrast were it not that they differ
SO much in defamation that the effect is COLI
siderably lessened. For the next two or three
months the size of this planet will slowly dimin-
ish. although we shall hardly be able to per-
ceive the change, and then it will again begin
to grow
Venus is a morning star, but she long ago
yielded the place of highest honor to her rival.
Jupiter. and as she approaches the sun she gets
fainter anc fainter. She goes into this re treat
however. ior fresh furnishing as when she
reappears as an evening star il will be with
greatly increased luster and with increasing
diameter.
Mercury is morning star until the 9th. when
he ls In superior con- junction with the SUM- and
Tor the rest OF the month lie will be evening
star.
Mars is evening star, but this we must take
on faith, as the planet of war has been some
time enGulfed in the dazzling sunbeams. He
opens the season as a morning planet on the
last Jay of July and begins career that will
be an extremely brilliant and important one
before 1t Is closed, as the great event of his
opposition TO the sun will occur next year.
he conspicuous stars of July are Regulus
Spica, Arcturus. Vega, Deneb Affair and An
tares. soon alter sunset at the beginning Of
the month Regulus will be found near Saturn
III the west. little above the horizon Spica
Is the large. blush white star in the south.
Arcturus is close to the zenith, with vega
somewhat to the eastward. Dcneb can De
found northeast of Vega. while Affair is JUS:
rising above the horizon and Antares is to the
southwark and eastward.
Directing our attention toward the constel,a-
ton OF Hercules We are rewarded b. a very
beautiful star cI.ster in which the diamonds
glitter and twinkle far too numerOusly for a
correct estimate TO be formed as to their num-
Der. While the term twinkler may have been
applied TO both planet and star there is differ
enee III the two which careful observation will
show, for while the stars twinkle the planet,
shine with a clear, quiet CLEAN, like small bits
Of the moon.