The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-12-22

~ ueciihation. ms makes 1t twelv
days Old when 1898 comes in and gives u
IN consequence the number twelve as tn
epact number for the coming year,
Uranus IS occuited on the 18th and Jupi
ter on the 26th. On the 18th there is con
junction with Venus. on the 18th will
Mercury, on the 18th with Mars, tn,
monthly as we'll as the annual record be
ing closed on the 30th, or at least yer,
early on the morning of the 31st, by
second meeting Tor the month between
Neptune and the moon.
Jupisers claim to the rank of being tn,
most important OF the evening host is IA
beyond dispute. for although he is gett,ns
further and further from us, his briiiiancy
causes him far to outshine all surround
ings and renders it very easy to distinguish
MN, ana makes 1t a We ry simple matter te
see why the Romans designated Jupiter a:
the god of the air.
Beyond the pleasure usually melted by q
glimpse at this wonderful planet. our in.
terest Is intensified by the news quite re.
centiy received OF the confirmation of the
report OF the discovery of a fifth satellite.
ihese little moons are situated in a re.
matkanie manner on the border line which
dlvides the objects visible to the unaided
eye from those which require telesconic
aio. 1t has been stated frequently that
THESE moons have been seen with the un-
AIDED eye; but without entering into anv
controversy ON the matter, it is sufficient
YAK NCii-hiloNH TACT Gnaf. not.
w~ithstanding Jupiter has been familiar to
the unaided eye for countless centuries. and
In tue ciearest skies, yet no one ever dis
covered the satellites until Calico turned
ms ne"iy-ingented telescope upon them.
inns telescope was no doubt a very feeble
instrument but the feeblest instrument is
quite adequate to show objects SO close to
the limit OF visibility. These little objects
stars. but they can be distin-
guished from stars by their ceaseless move
menfs around the planet, which they never
an 70 accompany during his entire circuit
vi the heavens. The eclipse of q satellite
must not be attributed TO the intervention
OIL the body of Jupiter berween the satellite
and the earth, which occurrence is called
an occuifatIon. The eclipse is the more
striklng phenomenon of the two, because
the satellite, at the moment it ~nIunoes
into the shadow, is still at some appnarent
Instance from the edge of the planet, and
is thus seen clearly up to the moment of
the eclipse. In an occuitation, the satel-
ute. IN passing behind the planet, is. at
the tiihe OF disappearance. close to the
planets bright edge. and the extinction of
the light of the satellite cannot be OBJ
served with the same distinctness "a the
occurrence of an eclipse.
The velocity of light can be ascertained
oy observations OF eclipses OF Jupiter's
sateiIl.es. III We calculate the moment
Wheh the eclipse takes place, and observe
the at which it is seen, the differ
ehce between the two gives the time which
tue night occupies on its journey, This can
be found with some accuracy, and. a. we
already know the velocity oflight. we can
ascertain the distance OF Jupiter from the
earth, and hence deduce the scale OF the
solar system.
venus has drawn somewhat nearer the
sun than she was At the beginning of last
month, and she is getting perceptibly
in size, her disk measuring harelv
Onp-fftn OF what IL iiI ~ o~i
She IS still beautiful in the early mornino
hours, and as she peeps out over the water
from behind a cloud, she casts a sheen of
winch the young moon might we'll be
proud. venus and the waning crescent of |
the oLd moon are IN conjunction on the
ibth, but their meeting is not at all close
mars IL stlli one of the evening stars. bnt |
ne Is drawing close TO the sun. and in tho
course OF n few months will have passed to |
the other side, TO be c.assed among the
morning stars On the 2oth Mars and
Luna are IN conjunction, but the distance
separating the two Is far TOO great To be of
any marked interest to US. /
Satnrn Is gradually growing in size. and
IS already bright enough 10 attract oYtr ar
'eh'iun III the morning skies. Just after
he old year closes Mercury reaches tha
OF ms tether ut Il point - DEGREES ~
minutes To The westward OF old Sol. when.
Ike the bail at the end OF a piece OF rubber
.trllg, he yields 10 the pull and flies back
}iice more toward the centre of the uni
'erse.
Since midsummer the heavens have mt
IN q somewhat changed appearance. show.
ng that the heavenly scene sh.trer has
'een right busy. and that lie has evidently
made up his MIND that the setting Of the
tableaus shall be as brilliant as il
'Os>ih-y can be made. 4 bunch OF hight
. be seen shove the eastern horizon soon
Iter dark assures Us hat the P!eiades are
to develop themselves and that
avIgatIon can be once more attemrted
'irh s~afety-at least that Vas what the
ncient Greeks said whenever this group
anne IN sight Magnificent Orion follows
Don after and lend. dignity and beauty ia
he skies throughout the night. still
tgher Is AIdeharan in the costellation Of
aurus. There are also two Dog Stars,
he Twins. Capella. Altai, Vega. the
Cross. and Others of the first
Magnitude.