Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-08-10
Jo1N THURSDAY, AUGUST 10 1893

of the solar system, she VIII nave
reached the position known as greatest
eastern eiongatiun. On the 18th " about
6 o'clock in the morning Venus is IN
conjunction with the moon, which
passes about one degree and three-quar-
tiers to the northward.
Mercury begins the month as an
evening star, but on the Sth is in in
ferior conjunction with the sun, and,
passing to the westward, is for the re-
inainder of the month classed with the
morning planets. Though Mercury is
really much larger than the moon, it is
SO very far off that its telescope appear.
ance is insignificant. Through the glass
it is seen, not usually as a circular OBJ
iect, but more or less crescent-shaped,
like miniature moon. The planet is a
globe composed, like the earth, OF ma
terials possessing in themselves no source
of illumination, but one-half of Mercury
must always be turned toward the sun,
and this half is accordingly lighted up
brilliantly. Nothing of the non-lllumi-
mated SIDE is seen, and the crescent is
due to the fore-shortened view obtained
of the illuminated half. Mercury is such
small object that, in the glitter OF the
naked-eye view, the shape of the
luminous body cannot be defined. In
deed, even in the much larger crescent
of Venus; the aid of the telescope has to
be invoked before the crescent form can
be observed. Beyond, however, the fact
| that Mercury is a crescent, and that IT
undergoes varying phases in correspond
ence with the changes, in its relative
position to the earth and the sun, not
much of the planet can be seen.
Neptune and the waning crescent are
at their closest on the 7th, which tells
the observer that the planet is morn
ing star. Neptune is drawing away
from the sun, and next month will be
in ouadrature, or 800 from the sun, on
its way to the position of opposition
which it will reach early in December
The planet is in the constellation Of
Taurus, in declination 200 So north anc
A hours AZ minutes right ascension.
Jupiter readily catches the eye o.
those who rise before the sun filings il!
fires to highest heaven and dims thu
brightness Of all other celestial wonders
The morning star is, indeed, well wortl
the exertion of early rising, as it is larg
and brilliant, and being about six hour
ahead of sunrise, has fine chance T.
pose as the most conspicuous object II
the eastern sky. On the 22d Jupite
will have completed quarter OF Its dis
lance around the sun, as upon that da,
, it reaches the position OF quadraturt
On the 9th it is in opposition with tn
!. moon, but at far too great distance t
= prove an attraction.
l Mars, the warrior, has now sunk int
insignificance, and is all but lost frol
. view in the absorbing rays of Old so
He will soon pass from the list of ever
ing stars to reappear late in October;
9 one of the morning galaxy, no longe
. however, as real rival to Jupiter, bi
!, simply one of a number ranged und,
u the banner Of the giant planet to mo
y perfectly accentuate his brilliancy.
u Uranus has now passed through u
phenomenon OF quadrature and is draN
~ ing nearer the sun, the two coming
y; conjunction during the early days
y November. There is nothing partic
~ larly worth chronicling for the mon
,, in relation to this grand member OF Il
\, I armament. Those who are not tortu
u ate enough TO have access to astronon
e cal instruments will probably have u
~ ending regret at the fact of the distan
~ to the planet being so great that tn
70 are no I allowed to see it with unald
y vision and are forced to take on tai
~ all the beautiful tableaux in which he
y. SO conspicuous figure. 49,,
nj Saturn has been filling the void
'r tween the disappearance of Venus a
" the coming of Jupiter, but the ring
Vi planet is getting to the earth's meridl
SO early in the afternoon nowadays ii
.ss observers are deprived more and mi
na of his serene, steady light. He n
oi y, reaches his highest meridian altitr
ca about A o'clock in the afternoon, but
DC will get there at Q O'Clock before
IS, month is out. He shines about as
w. 70 first magnitude stars not far from Sp
ny in the constellation of the Virgin.