Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-10-13
STARS OF OCTOBER'S SKIES
A New Epoch Begun in As
Economical Annals.
VENUS, QUEEN OF THE MORNING
Now Drawing Very Close to
the Blazing Sun.
For the Ensuing Six Months Day will
be Shorter Than Night--Jupitcr, the
Giant Planet, Brilliant, Dazziins,
Fascinating -Astronomical Wonders of
the October Heavens.
New York Times.

dSllOHOHllCul 81.
When the sun crossed the equinox on
its apparent journey around the earth,
the shortening day and the lengthening
night reached an equality IN duration,
and the sun was directly over the heads
of those from whom he never does
wholly retire his golden ray; so that
nights are longer than days.
For the next six months in this yiein-
ity the day will be shorter than the
night. In the first three months of this
period the days will be steadily grow
ing shorter and the nights longer, and
then the conditions will be reversed and
strange as it appears TO some, the days
during the cold winter months will con
tinually grow longer, in spite of the
very much lower thermometer.
Mars still attracts some attention, and
although fading from view and dimin.
ishing in size, it is still plainly visible
and easily distinguished from surround
ing stars by its bright, ruddy glow. 1t
comes to our meridian at an hour in the
evening when people are quite likely to
be out of doors, between Z and o'clock
and after all that has been written about
ii our curiosity will probably not be APP.
peased until in 1909 he makes us another
near visit.
The all-attractive object in the even
ing sky is, however, the giant planet,
which rises earlier and earlier each sue.
cessive evening, like a gorgeous fabric
of the east, which is suddenly raised by
some enchanting power where nothing
up to that time had been visible We
see glimmer near the eastern horizon,
which soon becomes beam Of light,
and out Of the nightly blackness bursts
forth Jupiter, brilliant, dazzling, fasci-
mating. A few more degrees altitude
and We have him in all his glory, light
ing upthe sky like small full moon
long after our satellite has sunk below
the western horizon.
On the 18th Jupiter and the sun arc in
opposition, one rising as the other sets,
which relative position affords us the
most favorable view of the planet. In
addition to this, he is slowly increasing
in size and also in light-giving power.
From the 9th, however, his size begins
to lessen aud at the close of the year he
will be reduced to what he was carly
in the summer months On the 9th he is
in conjunction with the moon, and as
but few minutes of arc separate the
two it will be interesting to sec how
much of his brilliancy is taken from
him while in such close proximity to
fair Luna.
After his conjunction, Jupiter passes
from the ranks of the morning stars to
those of the evening, over which latter
he at once assumes control.
The early bird not only catches the
worm but he also catches q fine glimpse
OF fair Venus, as she rises in the small
hours of the morning and shines males.
a q ff h,n =
hours before old Sol thinks Of ta5inr 4
peep at old mother earth, as represented
by the mortals who inhabit this portion
Of the sphere. Venus has, however,
gotten as far away from the sun as she
is permitted to wander, and she ia
slowly but surely being gathered into
the fold. She is jealousy watched over
and is not allowed to stray very far
away, but is kept constantly passing
and repassing the great centre OF light
and heat.
We are always well repaid, however
for waiting for her to get to the full
length OF her tether, as the splGndor in
which she shines and the wonderful
beauty OF her appearance cause her IL
take the palm OF glory away from every
other planetary object. Jupiter, try d,
hard as he will, and brilliant and gloriu,
as he becomes, cannot wear the laure
when fair Venus issues the challenge
1t will be well into the new year. how
ever, before Venus gets TO her Ctlrthcs
eastern elongation, but the event i
worth our watching for, and we SHOULD
hail with pleasure the time when 81,
graces the-eyening sky.
On the 25th OF last month Saturn wai
in conjunction with the sun, and afte
that.event he changed from an eycnin,
to a morning star, in which lattc
category he will remain until after IN.
new year. He and Mercury are in con
junction, and Il fairly close meeting II i
but we cannot without the aid of rIassn
witness the meeting, as both are to
near the sun. Saturn is Fastening ava,
70 the westward, while he meets NLer
;ury being drawn to the position Il
which he will be in superior coniunctig
with the sun. Saturn and the allno.
1aded crescent Of the old moon will b
quite closet together on the 18th. The mil
light OF this planet will he far moro nj
tractlve TO US some months later, us Ii
is growing in size, and if we have
look at nm through telescope we ca
see something Of his rings.
Mercury is still up to his elusiy
lodges, and II Is somewhat difficult /
keep up with his movements. Alma.
as soon as he makes himself visible -
one side OF the sun and quite BE- fOre "
can all succeed iii finding him. Id il
again begun to move toward tha sui
whose powerful rays completely rnrr
him. He ranks among the morniI,
stars until the 18th, when he passes n
sun to take his place as one ,
the evening galaxy Ils Il IL ~, ,,..,