Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1894-11-14
NOVEMBER HEAVENS.
terest Astronomers This
Month.

DedlHS, anu as II SDeouS Oh It's WHY 10 TIC
southwark the days grow continually
shsrter, till at the months close they will
be less than nine hours long. November
sunsets are, however, among the finest
of the year. writes the astronomer of the
New York Times. The clear atmosphere
of this season heightens the effect and
brings out the coloring IN richer tints
than when there is greater dlHernce in
temperature between air and water, and
there is more or less haZineSS about the
horizon.
On the 9Th the moon that came in on
the 18th of last month reaches the phase
of first quarter, but there is no conjunc-
ton with any of the planets until the
11th. on which the date Mars opens the
monthly list. Neptune'S turn comes the
day after the full of the moon and Jupl-
ter'S on the 10th. but the distance is far
too great for an attractive tableau. Sat
urn on the oath and Mercury and Uranus
on the 25th are also in the same category.
On the 9th Venus and Luna pass within
> degrees of each other, but do not afford
us much that is of interest. While the
moon does not play very prominent part
with the planets this month, the latter
are playing some very important roles IN
which the sun is also greatly Interested.
This series leads off with Uranus being
in conjunction on the 9TH, at which he
passes from the evening to the morning
stars.
On the 10th there will be a transit of
Mercury over the suns disk which is
visible here and quite generally in the
western portions Of Europe, IN Africa,
North and South America and the Pacific
ocean. The time from exterior contact
to the egresS is about five hours and
quarter. The phenomenon is not par
ticularly imposing spectacle, like, for IN
stance. Il total solar eclipse, nor OF such
sensational interest as transit OF venus
but it has considerable Importance in the
astronomy of precision, and certain
popular interest as resembling a transit
of Venus, which. unhapplly tor TINS gen
GRAFTON. will never occur until we have
all passed away, as the next time Venus
crosses the disk of the sun will be in
the year 2004. Mercury, however, affords
us more frequent amusement, as there will
be transits in 1907 and 1914.
The trans1tS OF Mercury are chiefly OF
Importance on account OF the accuracy
which their observation infuSes into calcu-
latiOnS of the movements of the planet.
1t has often been hoped that the ObSer-
VatiOnS during q transit would present
reliable information as to the physical
character of the globe of Mercury. To
some extent but not, unhappily, to a
large eNtent-theSe hopes have been real
lied S1illful observers have described
the appearance of the planet in transit as
that of a round, dark spot surrounded
by a luminous margin Of q depth VarlOuSly
estimated on different occasions at from
one-third to two-thirds the planets diam
eter. There can be hardly a doubt that
dense atmosphere surrounding Mercury
! would be capable of producing an appear
ance resembling that which has been de-
Scribed, and therefore the probability that
such an atmosphere really exists must be
| admitted On the other hand, the meas
urements of the intensity of light from
| Mercury seem to make the existence of
an atmosphere somewhat doubtful.
| Mercury is an interesting and beautiful
object which stimulates our intellectual
curiosity. while at the same time it has
| thus far successfully eluded all our at
/ temptS to obtain more complete knowl-
! edge. 1t is q difficult but not by any
means impossible task to weigh Mercury
| in the celestial balance and determine
| his mass in comparison with the other
/ globes of our system. This, is indeed a
| delicate operation, but it leads through
some of the most interesting paths of
| astronomical discovery. The weight of
| the planet, as determined by Won ASten,
! is about one-tWenty- fourth part of the
weight of the earth.
Saturn has hardly emerged sufficiently
/ from the suns engulfng rays to permit
| us to gaze on his fair face, and we shall
not see much of him this year. His place
| is among the morning stars, and the con-
Stellation of the Virgin in his location.
On the 18th Venus and Uranus are in
! conjunction. and the meeting is very close
| indeed but the planets are too near the
sun for us to see their approach and watch
! their disks almost touch, only to separate
again for q long. long time before once
more coming in such close proximity.
! Later on the same day Venus and Mer-
| curry find themselves much closer together
| than the other two planets, and it is adj
| ditiOnally aggraYatlng to have SO many
of our friends in a bunch without our
/ being able to see them. From what has
! already been said it can readily be sur
missed that Venus herself is we'll on
toward conjunction, and such an idea is
| correct for on the Both the fairest of
! the planets is in superior conjunction. and
when next we see her it will be in a rosy
/ sitting in the western section Of the sky.
where she will be serenely shining soon
after the sun has set.
Jupiter is in the constellation of the
/ Twins. but his path through this group
| is a short one. Still. while there. his set
ting is fairly brilliant, and as he rises
| early in the evening and comes to our
meridian some time i'll the middle of the
| night we have an excellent opportunity
to gaze upon this giant of the planets.
! About the middle of the month all four
! Of his satellites may be seen on the same
side Of the primary Jupiter and the
moon are IN conjunction shortly after the
full, and, while there is considerable dis
lance between them. a fine opportunity
is afforded to compare them. 1t will be
| hard TO realize as we See them that the
| God of the Heavens bears the same
ratio to fair Luna that Il pumpkin does
| to pea.
Neptune is now approaching the most
favorable position for observation Early
in December he is in opposition to the
| sun, and his diameter is the largest for
the year, when ii is 2.66 seconds. a guam
| THY however. far easier to express than
it is to measure. even with ordinary IN
struments of precision. Neptune, the
story goes, when he went to meet Am
phitrite. selected one Of the most beauti-
fully colored dolphins he could find as his
steed and Amphitrite smiled so sweetly
upon him that il was then and there de
! cided that the occa sion should be i'm.