The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-21
WINTER rs HERE.
Tho Genuine Article Began To be Served Mt
3O'ciock This Morning.

O'CLOCK 1nte morning.
Automatically Speaking. winter began
at o'clock this morning. The sun. which
has for months been steadily journeying
southwark, now hats In his course. and
after few days of apparent indeclsion.
turns his distant but glowing face once
more toward the chilly north When the
sun first turns about he does not make
much Roadway. and there is no percefti-
bic lengthening Of the days until January
Is well under way.
When the new year comes In the in
crease OF daylight will amount to about
three minutes. and Old Soils pace will
then materially quicken. To- he travels
on schedule time and has to make the
quarter by March.
In reference to bodies celestial the
Baltimore American had the following
learned article yesterday:
December is one Of the most Interesting
months OF the year 10 the student Of
astronomical phenomena. When the moon
occulted Saturn. on the l2th. series OF
interesting heavenly events was usherei
in, and astronomers vi find ever-varying
features presented In treir celsst al 8 u
dies pntil after the death Of the old year.
OF course. there is nothing new 10 them
in thege events which are wei knOwl 10
even tyros with the telescope. but even
the routine at this season presents
phase OF interest even to those who rave
watcbed similar chances and movements
Of the stars for wears. Many Of ne prin-
clpal planets during the Past two weeks
have played their parts In the astronomi-
cal drama, and for the time being retired
from the stage Jupiter VIII occu on
the 26th. on Christmas day there wi be
n conjunction with Mars. The monthly,
as we'll as the annual. record Will close
early on the morning Of the 3lst by
second meeting for the month between
Neptune and the moon
Jupiter's claim TO the rank Of being the
most important Of the evening host ~ FAR
beyond dispute: for. although he Is getting
further and further from US his brilliancy
causes him far to outshne all surround
ines. and renders Il very easy to distin-
guish him. and makes It very simple
matter to see why the Romans designated
Jupiter as the god Of the skies. His i'm
portance lust now is increased by the
confirmation Of the report OF the discov-
cry Of q fifth satellite. which has joined
the others in their revolutions about that
body. These little objects resemble stars,
but they can be distinguished from stars
by their ces seless movements around the
planet, which they never IAN 10 accom-
heavens
Venus has drawn somewhat nearer the
sun. and IS perceptibly decreasing in size,
her disk measuring only about One-ffth
what II did in midsummer. She Is still
beautiful however. I'm the early morning
hours. Saturn is. on the other. hand,
gradually growing, and IS already attract
ing attention IN the morning skies. Mer-
curry, too. has become a morning star.
and. like the star Of empire. is westward
taking his flight Soon after the now
year begins he will reach the end of mis-
Journey. and will start back toward the
centre Of the universe. Neptune, as be-
fore stated has the honor Of closing the
annual celestial performance by being
again in conjunction with the moon dur
ing the closing hours OF the old year,
and will then go off with his boon com
panion Uranus for a midwinter jaunt
through the heavens.
And so the heavenly tableau constantly
changes. and still other scenes will greet
us during the coming winter weeks. "A
bunch of light TO be seen above the
eastern horizon soon after dark assures
us that the Pleiades are about TO develop
themselves. and that navigation can be
once more attempted with safety, AT least
that was what the ancient Greeks said
whenever this group came in sight. Mag
nificent Orion follows soon after, and
lends dignity and beauty 10 the skies
throughout the night. Still higher Is
Alderharan, I'm the constellation of Taurus.
There are also the two Deg stars. the
Twins. Capclla Altai, Vega, the North
ern Cross and others CT the first magni-
tude which we shall probaoy know far
better rs the month advances and the
clear, crisp winter atmosphere affords us
a obopoa 10 Study them In their full glory.