The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-09-03
IHE AUTUNyAL EQUINOX.
Tho Sishts in the Heavens During
Falls First Month.

rss sun to Cross the Line on the 22nd.
q ,rsrqurv Now Morning Star and
Venus Hung in all Her Beauty in the
vrss+ Mars to be in Conjunction
with the sun To-Morrow-Jupiter a
Late Riser.
4 Drrny this month the heavens will
rrassnt many interesting features to the
4 s5sarvar. and the usual clear autumnal
s,fss will enhance the beauty and sub
Unity of the vast creation nightly spread
ont before us.
The earth in its annual course around
+ba sun will cross the autumnal equinox
IN the 22d, when the days and nights will
beequaL
MERCURY.
Mercury is now morning star, but it
cannot be easily seen, as it is too near the
SIM. It will reach its superior conjunc-
ton on the Doth, after which it will APP
pear as evening star.
VENUS.
The large, bright star in the west at
dark is Venus, which now dominates that
part of the heavens with its daz-
ling white light. 1t is still ris-
inc higher and higher and grow
ing brighter and brighter every
evening. A telescope of moderate power
will now show Venus to be in the shape
of the moon about three days after the
full
In will soon assume the crescent form,
but the loss of light due to a decrease in
its visible disk will be more than comp en-
stated for by the apparent increase in 81 re
due to its proximity.
Venus is moving almost directly toward
US now. aud we may find much interest
in watching its changes for the next few
months.
ON the night of the - the new moon
will make a very close approach to Venus,
indeed the planet will be occulted in the
southern hemisphere. The brilliant
planet, hanging almost upon the north
ern cusp Of the moon, like a diadem
upon the lunar co.Dnet, will present
a spectacle as rare as it is beautiful.
MARS.
Mars will be in conjunction with the
sun on the 4th and consequently it will
be impracticable to observe this interest
ing world for several months TO advan-
tage.
JUPITER.
Jupiter now rises about 10 o'clock p. M,
about 90 towards the north from the
east point of the horizon, and it crosses
the meridian at clock a. m.
Although this planet is not in the best
position for observation, still its gigantic
dimensions and interesting system of
satellites always render it an object of
wonder and beauty in the telescope. We
are now approaching Jupiter at the rate
of $1,000 miles an hour, and in a few
weeks this large and interesting world
will claim more Of our attention.
SATURN.
Near the western horizon at dark Saturn
may be seen struggling through the dense
atmosphere with an unsteady light. 1t
sets about o'clock, and in a short time
it will pass out of view for several months.
The moon will pass quite near it on the
night of the 18th.
URANUS AND NEPTUNE.
Both these planets appear very small,
and are difficult to find; moreover they
are not in good position for observation
this month. On the Ath Venus will be
very near Uranus. Neptune is morning
star.
THE CONSULTATIONS AND THE FIXED STARS.
In the north Ursa Major is west of
Polaris, DracO above, Cepheus to the
east, Cassiopeia below and to the east,
and Perseus just rising in the northeast.
The bright star in the northeast about II
o'clock is Capella in Auriga. Nearly over
star in a line with two other smaller
stars, while a little farther to the east is
the beautiful diamond-shaped group
known as Jobs coffin. ArcturGs in Bootes
Is overhead and to the west. Along the
eciptic CapricOrnus is just rising,
Sagittarius is well up. Scorpio is on the
meridian, next Libra, and lastly Virgo on
the western horizon.
The fixed stars appear to move but
little, and if Adam could come to life
again, he would see no appreciate change
IN the position of these far-off worlds
Still, accurate measurements show that
all of them are in rapid motion. The most
RAPID motion yet observed among the
fixed stars is that of 1880 (Groombridge),
star of the seventh magnitude in the
northern sky. Its velocity cannot be less
than 200 miles a second, or 600 times as
swift as cannon ball. It is sometimes
called the runaway starr Our sun, too,
with its retinue of worlds, is drifting 49,
OOOOOO miles year toward the constella-
ton Hercules, threading the mazes of an
Infinite purpose with beautiful precision
along
That broad and ample road
whose dust is gold and pavement stars"
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