Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-04-14
THE APRIL PERMANENT.
Phenomena of the Heavens in the Close
Future

OF more than usual consequence The
event OF greatest moment and most
| attractive to the scientist is the total
| eclipse OF the sun on the 10th and 10th
OF the month. While we are not per
mitted, says the New York Times, to see
the eclipse in this latitude, it occurs
under circumstances which make its
observation peculiarly promising to sci
ence. The phenomenon known as the
full occurs twice in April For a
/ short month to contain five phases is
! somewhat remarkable. The first of the
month brought us a full moon, and the
last will duplicate it, but the latter be
| ing somewhat further south will prob
ably seem warmer and nearer to us.
The 9th has the phase of last quarter,
and Aprifs new moon does not come
until the 10th.
The coincidence between the day of
! the total eclipse and that of new moon
will possibly strike those most interest
ed in regarding the heavens, us it is
, only when the moon comes between the
sun and the earth that an eclipse can
occur. New moon always takes place
earth nearer the sun, as full moon can
only happen when the moon is on the
side of the earth opposite the sun, facts
which for convenience it would be well
to bear in mind.
There is conjunction between moon
and planet eight times during April,
the first being with Uranus Il week
ago, and the last with the same planet,
just as the month is about to
close. On the 18th comes Mcrcury's
turn, then Venus, two days later, which
is the closest for the month; Jupiter
comes the following day, and on the
10Th Neptune and the growing crescent
are at their closest. Mars receives Il
visit on the 10Th and Saturn on the
9th about midnight. This last will
make the best spectacular showing, for,
while the moon is somewhat too bright,
it will be interesting to see the two
bodies so close together, besides which
the majority of the other conjunctions
are hidden from our view.
Were we really permitted to see
Uranus as plainly as we see Venus,
Jupiter. OF even Saturn. the place of
most distinction among the planets for
April would have to be awarded to this
far-diStant heavenly body. He is now,
to be sure, fairly visible to the naked
eye, shining rs star of the sixth mag
nitllde about eighteen degrees south
east of the bright star Spica, in the
constellation of the Virgin. Unless one
We're to bring Il telescope to aid his
natural vision, he could hardly dlStin-
guish the planet from the host of stars
of equal brilliancy that surround him.
With that aid, however, the delicate
green color and steady light of the
planet make him fairly conspicuous in
his setting of tWinllers.
What makes Uranus particularly de-
serving of our interest this month is
the fact of his being in opposition with
the sun on the 2Sth, after which he
will be one of the galaxy of evening
stars.
We shall hardly have a glimpse of
either Venus or Jupiter during the
month of April. The two are engulfed
in the long rays of gold that shoot with
tremendous b"auty from the sun and
effeotually pale even the brilliant color
ing of the lustrouS gems Of the sky.
They have q little meeting of their
own on the 2Sth, the day following
that on which Jupiter is in conjunction
with the sun The two disks almost
touch, and were we only able to pene-
trate the dazzling sunlight, picture
as rare and as beautiful as that eX-
hibited when last they came together
on the eastward side of the sun would
reward us.
Mercury is now among the morning
stars and is fastening toward his most
distant western position from the sun,
which he reaches on the 2Sth, when
he will be almost u degrees away.
At this point he turns and approaches
the sun, with which he is in cOniunc-
ton early in June, when he swings
around the eastern portion of his route
once again to approach old Sol.
Neptune, the furthest away of all
the planets, has but very little to dis
tinguish him this month. He is an
evening star, is still in the constella-
ton of Taurus, and is approaching the
sun. He comes above the eastern
horizon at about eleven o'clock in the
evening" but the hour is getting earlier
and earlier each succeeding night as
the planet gets nearer and nearer the
time of conjunction with the sun.
While Jupiter, the brilliant, has fad
ed away and has passed the less con
spicuous Mars on his way to the sun,
the latter continues to shine with his
usual steadiness, coming into view as
the high coloring of these beautiful
sunsets of early spring melt into more
sober grays, then to take upon them
selves the sombre hues of night. The
warlike planet and Luna have their
customary monthly meeting on the
10Th, but the fu1ling crescent passes
at somewhat too great a distance for
an enjoyable scenic display.
Ever since Saturn's opposition on the
Doth of March he has been an evening
star. and has no doubt already begun
to prove an attractive feature in the
evening sky. as he is to be found shin
ing there soon after sunset and is in
the best position for observation that
he will be for the year. His rings are
now slowly opening and will continue
to do so until about the close Of the
century, when they will be open to
their widest extent, the northern side
being Illuminated After seven or
eight years the rings will agin dis
apnear. and the circIlit will he COM
pleted about 1n15 The southern side