Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-02
VENUS AND JUPITER.
Celestial Phenomenon That DC.
ours Only Once In Eighty Years.

ours Only Once in Eighty Years.
Prof. r. w. Prentiss. professor Of astron-
omy in Rutgers College commenting on
the unusual spectacle which the twilight
sky now affords of the exceedingly bright
evening stars Jupiter and Venus, says:
The phenomenon occurs at intervals of
eighty years, whenever the planet is at or
near Its greatest north latitude, and about
four or five weeks before inferior conjunc-
ton, at which Venus is between us and
the sun. Venus is now 5000. OOO miles dis
tant from the earth. but by February 16,
at INFERIOR conjunction. this will have di-
mlnlshed to 20,440,OOU. Venus will then
present to US a face entirely unilluminated
ana Will be lost in the brightest rays If
the sun. Even now. IN the telescope, II is
seen TO exhibit the form Of delicate ores-
cent ike the new moon, and the quarter
part Of its disk being in the shadow, 50
that the brightness seems the more wen
derrul. After February III it will pass to
the outer side OF the sun, being visible IN
November ~ it's distance viii have increas-
co 10 loe.OOV,OOO miles. when its brightness
Will be flve times less than it is now
Jupiter, although separated from US by
more than 4UO.OUU.vUO miles, is yet the larS-
est planet in the solar system and exceeds
IN size thousand earths. 1t Is the giant
planet and outshines the other stars in
outline. In magnitude and luster. Venus,
as our own globe Its orbit is almost q
circle entirely within the orbit Of the earth,
SO that at times 1t is between US and the
san, and at other times beyond the sun, its
distance varying from 25,UOU,OUO to 10000 :
wv Of miles.
AT present Venus 3 our nearest neigh
Dor among the planets, and its nearness
ana nigh rejecting powers combine to
MAKE II more conspicuous. In fact, it is 50
brilliant IT may be seen in a clear sky with
the naked eye throughout the entire day
Dy any one who knows Just where 10 look
Tor 1t.
1t is a little more than two hours behind
the sun ana few degrees higher, and
therefore may be found little above the
place the sun occupied in the sky two hours
before A few moments after o'clock
every day this week 1t will be on the
meridian. half way up the stay, between
horizon.
In the morning hours, from 10 to II, it
IS IN the southeast at an altitude of about
80 TO 40 degrees.
1t is related by Arago that Napoleon
Bonaparte upon repairing to the Luxem-
bourg, when the directory was about to
give him fete. was very much surprised
at seeing the multitude which was collect
ed In the Rue de Touron pay more utten-
ton to the region of the heavens situated
above the palace than to his person or to
the brilliant staff which accompanied him.
he inquired the cause and learned that
these curious persons were observing with
astonishment, although II was noon, a star
which they supposed to be that Of the Con-
queror of Italy, an illusion TO which the IL
lustrious general did not seem Indifferent
when ne himself with his piercing eyes re-
marked the radiant body.
The star in question was no other than
venus. Other instances OF its observat ton
in the daytime recorded, some at q
very early period-3YS A. D., 9S4, lOUS, lul4
1I15 and 1850"