Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-29
THE HEAVENS IN LINE.
Some of the More Important of the Astre-
| nomical Changes.


nomicai Changes.
From the New York Times
The most important OF the astronomical
events for June is the arrival OF the sun at the
extreme northern point in its course-the sum-
mer solstice-where twill be on the 10th of the
month, just few minutes before midnight.
The May moon that is now shining so round
and low begins to fade. and gradually. as its
light lessons, at assumes a bow shape. and then
disappears, to make way, June IL. for the moon.
which, for day or two. follows 70 closely in
the wake of the sun that we shall hardly see
much of it before the 10th. The growing cres-
cent gradually crawls higher and higher into
the zenith. and rises later and later. as though
its ever-increasing disk were making il lazier
and lazier, until, on the 29th, we have the
beautiful full moon, shining IN the clear dark
bice OF heavens dome, and tempting us out To
enjoy the balmy summer air.
On the 18th the moon and Jupiter are in con-
Juheuon; on the 18th Neptune is encountered.
and the day following Mercury. These three
events serve very well TO mark the progress of
the waning moon as IL advances toward the
sun. and they tell us that all three of the PLAN
ets named are stars which laughingly adorn the
bosom OF the morn in advance of that outpour-
ing Of gorgeous stores which flow like the
stored Pactolus, all golden and issue in the
orb OF day. The nascent moon first encounters
Venus and then Mars, but no scenic effect will
reward our watching eyes On the Dist Saturn
and the moon will give us the prettiest tableau
for the month, while Uranus on the 29d. viii
close the monthly series.
Ine morning sky now contains one Of the
brightest Jewels In the planetary crown. AZ
Jupiter was at last slipped from his leash and
Is drawing further and further from the sun
Az the close OF the month of June he will have
increased the distance by fully an hour and Q
half, until the space IL stretched TO twelve
hours, when the planet will have reached the
position known as conjunction and his size
VIII be half as large again as it is at present
nls present proportions being about those that
ne mad when We bade him revoir in early
April The early risers are. however the only
ones VINO can at present see him, as he gets nm
only about two hours in advance Of the sun.
saturn Is really the most prominent of the
planets Tor ordinary purposes Of observation,
as we have him TO look at all the evening from
the time he comes overhead which is at pres-
ent about 1:45, until he browns himself in the
western depths of the gloomy ocean or sinks
behind the hills outlined against the occi-
dental SKY Just as the summer girl is about to
say good night As the month advances how
ever, he can no longer be taken TO indicate the
hour when todays farewells must be said in
order that Others may follow tomorrow. for he
rises earlier and earlier on each successive
night, and at the close of the month be reaches
the meridian at 5:45 o'clock
The chief phenomenon which characterizes
the planet IN June Is the fact Of its reaching the
position OF quadrature in relation to its dis
lance from the sun. This means that one-ouarter
OF Its travel about the sun has been completed
and that 1t has at that time, the 27th, but six
hours more of lite journey TO perform before ia
is IN conjunction with the sun and changes
from an evening TO a morning star in which
category IL will remain until the year closes.
Venus Is quickly coming to gladden. our eyes
with her matchiess and wonderful light so
radiant so AhA Sc
powerful enough TO stand forth alone, and II
lost Tor the time In the effulgent RAYS of the
sun. But she is there about a half hour later
than the sun, and, like the direction that one
occasionally sees IN space about to be occus
pieo by some enterprising advertiser we mus
watch this space" and our reward will soon
be forthcoming. Some clear evenin, shortly
after the sun has set and the brilliant colorine
has faded. we shall see, some what. perhaps. to
our surprise IN spite Of our anticipations, the
beautiful queen of the planets shining serene
and bright, and we can hail her with all the more
warmth OF welcome, as she viii then have come
TO grace our evening sky for the remainder Of
the year.
Mercury, the planetary dodser. continues his
artfui shifting from place to pace, which, could
we but see more of. would no doubt add greatly
TO the interest while detracting somewhat from
the mystery OF his whereabouts. Just at pres
ent he Is morning star. but, prestol changed
and we ind him on the 4th in superior con-
junction. Win the sun. and thereafter, for the
remainder of June and the whole of july. in
the role OF an evening star. Well named il
he, indeed, for the substance itself is seemingly
not more unstable than this lively trickster
He is little chap. however, and being the
smallest OF the planetary family his antics are
pardonable.
Mars. under circumstances as they Of present
exist, rs not much of q success. for he has gone
SO Tar from us that H SCENE hard TO realize thse
he was once so very brilliant and the cynosure
OF all observers, who were enthusiastic over
his striking appearance and fiery red coloring
He is now hardly more than half the size be
was when the year opened, and has to dwindls
still more before he reaches the limit Of his
shrinking. But before the year closes he will
have grown 20 be as large as he Was in April
aud next year we shall find him somewhat fur.
Their increased In SIZE. In September he IL in
conjunction with the sun, and after that viii be
among the morning stars.
Uranus does not help us out particularly in
our tableaus. The moon on the 2Sd passes
fairly close 10 him. so that we can have q gen.
ersl idea OF his whereabouts. but that 10 ABOUT
all He is in the conjunction of the Virgin, NOT
SO very far from the bright star SpicA Uranus
comes to our meridian about $50 in the even
ing, but rs 1t is in Is degrees southern decline
ton IL does not reach our zenith by quite q
considerable amount
Neptune and Mercury are in conjunction on
the Sd, and the former continues on in its role
of morning star. which it enters upon ON the
LIST. when il will be IN conjunction with the
sun. On the 18th the planet and Luna are az
their closest for the month which completes
the events in which the far-distsnt planet par
tlclDatesu