The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-01
THE GREAT Sun SPOT.
ITS RE-APPEARANCE AWAITED
WITH INTENSE INTEREST.


The Wonderful and Unexplained Phe-
nomena in Connection With It-ProE
Otis Ashmore's Review of the Plane
tary World in Msrch-The Move
msnts to Take Place in the Starry
World.
One OF the largest and most remarkable
sun spots ever observed has Just passed
across the suns disk. It made its appear
ance on Feb. 5, aud disappeared on the
western limb on FEB. Is. 1t was distinctly
visible to the naked eye through a smoked
glass as a single black spot OF enormous
proportions. but the telescope showed IL to
be composed of an aggregation of a great
number Of smaller spots matted together
like vast eruption on the suns face.
from measurements Of the suns image,
and from several photographs of the sun
secured by the writer Feb. 9 and II. the
length Of the disturbed surface was esti-
mated at 125, 900 miles and the breadth at As
OCO miles, covering an area of more than 100
times that of the earth. IL crossed the SUMS
southern limb about 25s from the solar
equator, and asthe sun MAKES one revolution
In about twenty-seven days, it may be ex-
pected to reapDear on the eastern limb about
March 2 or 8. Its form may be much
changed, as evidences OF disintegration were
observed before its disappearance
In connection with this great sun spot
violent, magnetic and electrical disturb
ances have been observed on the earth.
showing some strange and as vet upex-
planned connection between these spots and
terrestrial magnetism and electricity. The
temperance of this great sun SPOT will be
watched with intense interest all over the
world aud all the skill of modern science
Will be focused upon its unsolved mys-
teries.
THE MOON.
Full moon will occur on the 18th, and
new moon on the 2Sth. She will be hi CHEST
or farthest north on the 9th, and lowest or
rarthest south on the 2lst. She will be in
apogee on the 18th and in perigee on the
2Sth. Her conjunctions with the planets
will occur as follows:
On the lst the moon will be 90 As south
OF Venus; on the 4th, g IL north of Nep-
tune; on the IL. L So north of Saturn; on
the 10th, o. 35' north Of Uranus; on the
2lst, 3 81 south of Mars, on the 27th, 90
81 south of Jupiter; on the Goth, AZ IS
south OF Mercury; and on the Slst, lie 81
south of Venus.
MERCURY.
Mercury is now near the sun and on the
opposite side from US, 80 that during this
perior conjunction on the 9th.
VENUS.
This planet is now the brightest object
In the western sky and its brilliancyi is daily
increasing. 1t has almost reached its maxi
mum hight above the sun while its motion
is still nearly directly toward u.s. Venus
revolves around the sun in about 900 DAVIS
at distance Of 100000 miles from that
luminary. 1t is about 1900 miles in diane
ter. and is surrounded by dense white
clouds of high rejecting power, hence its
dazzling brIlliancy. The body Of the planet
itself is but rarely seen. The time of It's
axial rotation is usually given at about
twenty-four hours, but recent observations
have thrown much doubt upon this point
and lead US to suspect that Venus like the
moon rotates once on its axis for every re-
volutton around the central mass attrac ting
1t. The present approach of Venus to the
earth may settle this question.
MARS.
Mars is still morning star, and it rises
about l o'clock about 25o south of the east
point of the horizon. It may be easily
recognized by its rudy appearance and
large size. 1t is now rapidly approaching
Its opposition when we can see it at the best
advantage.
pNoS eAAbCA ohhdOb ALIuleQl6b6ly D0QlOQ the
sun may be seen this planet struggling
through the dense atmosphere near the
horizon. Soon it will pass from view
entirely, and several months must elapse
before we can observe Jupiter again.
SATURN.
On the 10th Saturn will be in opposition
to the sun, and in the most favorable posi-
ton for obser vation during this year. IL
rises now about q O'Clock and crosses the
meridian about o'clock. 1t is in the con-
stellatlon Virgo between Spica and Regu-
lus OF Leo. 1t shines as white star of the
first magnitude about 80 north Of the eclip-
tic. A good telescope will reveal its curl
Gus rings, whose plane is now much in
clined to the earth.
URANUS AND NEPTUNE.
These two planets are not in favorable
positions for observation now, indeed. they
cannot be seen without the aid of a tele-
scope. Uranus Is morning star, and Nep-
tune is nearly overhead about dark.
THE CONSTELLATION AND FIXED STARS.
Ursa Major may now be seen east of
Polaris. This constellation is sometimes
called 'the dipper, nand is one Of the best
defined in the heavens. Cepheus and Cas-
siopeia are to the west Along the ecliptic
Leo is fully risen at dark, while Cancer and
Gemini are near the meridian. Orion, with
its wealth of worlds, is on the meridian at
dark, and little to the east blazes Sirius
or the Dog Star, the brightest among the
heavenly host. Still farther to the east is
Spica of Virgo and Arcturus of Bootes.
Arcturus is mentioned in the book of Job
Qx.,9. and is remarkable from the fact that
it is plunging almost directly toward us at
the rate Of ffty-ffve miles per second
Although this enormous speed has been
maintained for ages, still we notice no ap
preciable change in its position or bright
ness. What an abyss of space must be that
across which the imagination itself tires in
its flight? OTIs AsHMORE.