Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-03-11

nole OF explanation may De IN place
here.
Anciently the twelve Signs of the 20
diac.' with which alone the almanac is
concerned. conceded in position with the
twelve zolipcal consultations which bear
the same names. They were, In fact,
identical, sign being an astrological rather
than an astronomical term. In the time
of Iippnrchus, some 2OOO years ago, the
sun upon crossing the celestial equator
from south to north entered the constellH-
ton Aries which was considered as be-
ginning the series Of TIE signs. But one
OF the discoveries Of this father Of exact
astronomy was that the two points at
which tho sun crossed the equator were
not liked. but were slowly retreating west
ward-that the yernal equinox, for cx-
ample. was slowly slipping back into the
proceeding constellation, Pisces The
movement, known MS the procession of
Tie equinoNes, proceeded ut rate which,
since the time of Hipparchus has carried
these points to the westward 80 degrees
the exact length of zOdiacal sgn-and
which in about 10000 years will carry
Them around the entire circumference Of
the heavens. Thus 1t happens that since
the signs have constant relation to
the shifting eQuinoxcs. moving with them,
while tile consultations remain fixed. the
sun now reaches each sign n full month
i'Ctore II renche the constellation which
bears TIE same name.
ihe cause OF TINS movement of preccs-
sion is a certain gyratory motion of the
EARN, while turning on its axis, motion
Wulch Inns been compared 90 the gyration
OF tplnuing top. In consequence of which
Inc Two poles Of the earth'q axis slowly
drscrthe 10 The heavens circles, having a
fadinS OF % H. degrees, while the &c.
lestiol equator correspOndingly shifts ils
position among the stars. Since the
ecuPuc' or suns path among the stars, re-
mains inyariablc IN place, tlc points
where 1t is crossed by the shifting equator
arc, continually sliding along II.
10 render this matter more intelligible
u doItel circle has been drawn ON the
planispherc showing the path passed hy
tue shtung north celestial pole Let the
render examine this chart held inverted,
and let him Imagine that he Is facing the
north. On the right. at high elevation.
ne VIII see the Great Dipper. On the
leIl is tue constcllG ton Cassiopeia. With.
IN the circle are the Little Dippcr. or
ldtuc Rear Ursa Minor and most of
ihe stars OF the constellation Drlco. The
arrow shows the direction in which tho
, invisible pole of the heavens moves. AT
the present time IL is very near the star
Known for this reason as the Pole star
some 1900 years ago II was near the
| star Alpha Drpconis, thlrd-magnitnde
star midway between the bowl OF the
Little Dipper md the handle of the
N'A'hA blpptI. IN uuoWt l1tupO years
| from now, TO look forward a short wnv
into the future, Il will have performed
onehalf OF It's circuit, and It viii then be
~ degrees from its present position
Tile yernal equinox will then be where
the autuinnal equinox is now. The celcs.
tial equator, which now rams through the
middle of Orion, will then run near Ca
pelln.
What will be the effect Of these
CHANCES tina - a..
starry heayensI Ii will be this: The
whole celestial sphere will appear TO have
been shifted and placed upon new pivuts.
Orion win be summer constellation, and
he will be so far TO the South that only
his head and shoulders will appear above
the horizon for observers In our North
ern latitude; Sirius will never he seen
by them, since Il will have taken a
place among the South circum-Dolar
stars: Procyon will appear above the
horizon, but 50 low as to be rarely Wis.
ible. As an Offset to their LOSSES. we-or
rather our very rciuote descendants
will have added to their ornament many
brilliant stars, which are now seen only
BY Observers In the southern hemisphere
Among these accessi1ns will be the
Southern Gross, which. IN those dave.
will appear for observers IN the latitude
Of Washington about IL degrees above
the horizon. or at about half the latitude
alNAihNu ny NliluH WI tue lnnfulun.
Mercury will be in inferior coninnc-
ton with the sun on the 14th. This
planet will, therefore, be an evening star
during the first half and a morning star
during the latter half Of The month, but
too near the sun to be visible
Venus passcd her inferior conjunction
with the sun on the lGth OF last month.
She may now be seen IN the east beforn
sunrise. On the 22i she will shine with
her greatest brilliancy as Lucifcr, the
Morning star
Mars Is morning star, rising at abont
3 a. m.
Jupiter. near the Neades. Is s.il a
splendid evening star, remaining above
the horizon until near midnight
Saturn ia the constellation Virgo, nenr
the star splca, now rises at about 0
y M.
Uranus Is also in the constellation Vir.
so. an hour and 20 minutes TO The east
ward Of Saturn.
Nentune. Invisible to the naked eve. \
In a., constellation Taurus. at the point
Indicated on the plainsphcre.
Tho congressman-a, large is terror
60 the scrscanl.et-arms.- Dealer.
hosas.