The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-02-06
GREAT STAR PERFORMANCE
Venus and Jupiter, Two of the Bright
est of the Planets Get Together.
Beautiful Night for 0bservstion-First Time
They Have Met Since 1S59-Something of
Their Plans for the Future.

evening gave excellent opportunity to OBJ
serve one of the most rare and interesting
celestial events of the present year. the
near approach to each other OF Venus n
Jupiter. the two brightest planets. Prof.
Arthur K. Bartlett, of Battle Creek. Mich.
q well-known ronom has written an
accurate description of the event-one of
the beauties about an astronomical occur
renee is that it can be described as accu-
rately before as afterwsrd. According to
Professor Bartlett the planets were nearest
together this morning, when they were be-
low the horizon and consequently invisible
from this portion of the earth. though
they were close enough to each
other last evening to attract the spe-
cial attention Of observers. and afford
an interesting exhibition OF planetary
splendor. About two hours after sunset
Venus was west Of Jupiter a distance equal
to two-thirds of the moons diameter. and
both planets might be seen together in the
field OF q small telescope. The two planets
set together about three hours after the
sun. and the distance between them con-
tinued to decrease while they remained
above the horizon, their nearest approach
occurring about 400 O'clock this morning.
when they were in conjunction, or on q line
extending north and south, both having
the same longitude.
When nearest to each other Venus was
only one minute of arc south of Jupiter. an
exceedingly small angle. and Ifthe planets
could have been seen at the time. they
would have appeared almost in contact
with each other. 1t was the closest con-
junction of these two planets since the
year 1859. when their distance was exactly
the same. and the present conjunction came
very near being an occultation, or the pas
sage of one planet over another, which 10 q
very rare event, and only a few instances
of the kind are recorded by astronomers.
Venus, travelling more rapidly, overlook
Jupiter from the west. and after passing
each other at conjunction, the distance
between the two planets will increase
daily. Venus receding from the sun and
growing brighter. while Jupiter will con-
fainter, until it Is lost entirely in the SUMS
rays.
This evening. two hours after sunset.
Venus will be about forty minutes, or two
passed the line of conjunction. and those
who have observed the approach or these
rival planets during the past month will be
interested In watching their future move
ments, and noticing how rapidly they Will
February. they will be twenty degrees
apart. The two planets, when in close
proximity may be observed to excellent adj
vantage by the naked eye. owing
to their great brillianoy. though q
small telescope of moderate power will
give q more interesting view. and will en-
able one to observe the charming satellites
of Jupiter and the beautiful. phase OF
Venus. which presents q striking resem-
when an equal portion of her illuminated
disk is visible. A fine view of the planets
may be obtained with O good -opera-glass.
which will make them appear brighter aud
more prominent.
Venus will be a conspicuous object upon
the western heavens during the month of
February, and may be discovered under
the most favorable conditions as she Is APP
preaching the earth. growing larger and
brighter, and moving eastward from the
III thus increasing the time that she re-
mains above tho horizon. until she reaches
her greatest elongation, on April 20. when
she will be forty-five degrees aud thirty
four minutes east of the sun. As she APP
minated disk each evening, but the loss is
more than counterbalsnced by her greater
diameter, and her brilliancy Will, there
fore. constantly increase as she recedes
from the sun. At present she Is In the con-
stellatiOn Aquarius, and as she is now NOV
ing northward. she will become more
favorably situated for observation each
evening during the month.
The event of two or more planets coming
into conjunction, or being grouped together
Cp&OO ap0A ~ M 10 ~
that does not often occur, and when any
planet comes as near to another as Venus
does to Jupiter 1t is q phenomenon that no
person should allow to pass unnoticed and
unobserved. The earliest known record of
such an event is that made by the Chinese,
in which it was stated that Mars, Jupiter,
Saturn and Mercury appeared in conjunc-
ton, and astronomers have ascertained
that this occurred on Feb. %. 2446 years
before Christ. 1t was previous to the
deluge, and the fact must have been subse-
quently calculated. in order to appear
among the ancient records.
In the year 1859 Venus and Jupiter came
so near each other that to the naked eye
they appeared as q single object in the
heavens. Tn four planets-Jupiter, Mars.
Venus and Mercury-in the year IT'S. could
be distinctively seen together In the field
of q telescope. On Nov. 10. 1873. Saturn and
Mars came In close proximity to each other
and attracted considerable attention.
Venus and Jupiter were similarly situated
on Aug. IL. 1874. and presented q beautiful
appearance in the western heavens after
sunset. On Jan. ~. 1875. Saturn and Mer-
curry were seen in conjunction, low down
near the western horizon; and another
event OF this kind occurred on Nov. Is.
1890. when Mars passed one degree south OF
Jupiter.